Sally Simpson: Sally Simpson: This is why I love these Olympiads.
It's dream time. The equivalent being the chance for a Sunday league team to play Manchester United in an official game.
The lad sits down opposite a top GM and without a shred of fear tries to steer him into a delayed Morra Gambit, when this fails he sacs a Bishop on f7.
No danger of this lad playing like a rabbit caught in headlights.
A GM title and mega rating means sod all to this lad. A smile, a flick of the wrist and a shrug of the shoulders. Brilliant.
The Jordan game plan apears to have been to offer Alshouha as a sacrifice on board one and catch out the Russians preparation on boards 2-4. Very cunning.
They have an IM in their team, Sami Khader, but he was rested in prep for today's match v Fiji. (they have sneaked Sami onto board 4....again very cunning.)
Alas they have left out Alshouha for the Fiji match. Let's hope they find a few more games for him. He is currently my Hero of Tromso.
The line up for the Jordan - Russian match was.
Basil, Alshouha 2135 - GM Grischuk, Alexander 2795 0 - 1
FM Samhouri, Bilal 2256 - GM Svidler, Peter 2751 0 - 1
FM Mansour, Sameer 2249 - GM Karjakin, Sergey 2786 0 - 1
FM Mohannad, Farhan 2321 - GM Nepomniachtchi, Ian 2714 0 - 1
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The line up for today's Fiji - Jordan match.
CM Prasad, Calvin 2011 - FM Samhouri, Bilal 2256
CM Kumar, Manoj 1987 - FM Mansour, Sameer 2249
CM Goundar, Sanmogam 1952 - FM Mohannad, Farhan 2321
Sikivou, Taione 1817 - IM Khader, Sami 2352
Info from:
http://www.chess-results.com/tnr140...