Russian National Teams Get Ready for World Chess Olympiad

Training camp in Sochi starts on September 15.

The 43rd World Chess Olympiad is taking place in Batumi, Georgia, from September 23 till October 6. 185 teams are expected to play in the open section, while the women's event will see 151 teams.  

The Russian national men's team with Vladimir Kramnik, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Sergey Karjakin, Dmitry Jakovenko, and Nikita Vitiugov has the second starting number. The rating favorite is the U.S. team, a current Olympic champion. Main rivals of the Russian chess players, besides the American team, are chess players from China, Azerbaijan, India, Ukraine, France, Armenia, England, and Israel. Head coach of the Russian national men's chess team is Andrey Filatov, its coaches are Alexander Motylev and Alexander Riazantsev. 

The women's tournament is headed by the Russian team consisting of Alexandra Kosteniuk, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Valentina Gunina, Natalija Pogonina, and Olga Girya. Head coach of the Russian national women's chess team is Sergei Rublevsky, its coaches are Vladimir Potkin and Evgeny Najer. Main competitors of the Russians are the teams from China, Georgia, Ukraine, India, France, Poland, and Kazakhstan.    

On September 15th, the Russian teams are going to the final training camp in Sochi where they will be getting ready for the Olympiad. 

Head coach of the Russian national men's chess team Andrey Filatov:

– Our chess players are always eager to defend the honor of their country in competitions of the highest level. The objective of the coaching staff is to sense the psychological state of all the team members, to help them dispose themselves to fight and to instill confidence of success in them. Our players have a great motivation: thanks to support of FGC UES, general sponsor of the Russian national chess teams, we are organizing regular training camps with the best coaches. I would like to thank FGC UES and PhosAgro, general partner of the RCF, for their help and support. 

Head coach of the Russian national women's chess team Sergei Rublevsky:

– Our team composition is the same as it was two years ago in Baku. Our main rivals are also the same: China, Ukraine, and, of course, Georgia. The latter is the most dangerous when at home, eagerly supported be its fans. Teams from the USA, Poland, and India may also struggle for the medals. Well, we will fight! 

General sponsor of the Russian national chess teams is FGC UES. General partner of the Russian Chess Federation is PhosAgro. 

Website of the Olympiad