Third seeds Armenia are confidently stepping from one win to another as they beat today Cuba 3-1 to extend their lead over top seeded Russia and Ukraine to full two points, with just five rounds remaining. Russia were held to a draw by the Czech Republic and they might be happy to score as good as that.

The Armenians made best use of the colour assignment and won both games in which they commanded white pieces to tie games played with black. Russia barely drew with vibrant Czech team as Svidler lost to Navara at top board and Morozevich extricated from a very bad position (probably winning on time). Uzbekistan have been doing very well until now but their form seems to evaporate day by day as today they lost to Georgia 2.5-1.5. Ukraine, who did not suffer spectacular losses but did not squeeze their opposition as tight as could be, finally found their way to the top wiping out Sweden 3-1 to move to second. Tomorrow they will face Armenia to be one of last major obstacles on leader's way to making history. France, who took off poorly have been plunged in a crisis for a couple of days but now they emerged near the peak headed by late-comer Bacrot (3/3 so far). However now they will have to face toughest opposition if they dream about retaining top 10 position.

USA stayed near the peak easily beating Denmark. China ran over the Philippines 3.5-0.5 and are in joint fourth with promising prospects for final rounds. India beat Bulgaria by the smallest possible margin (Anand drew again) but this is not enough since they have to chase the leading group. Today Israel and Azerbaijan met - two teams seeded in top 10 that have been awfully underperforming - and the match went on for a 2-all draw which is certainly below expectations of both sides. England clamber out of a trash too slowly - only 2.5-1.5 vs Lithuania today is by far inadequate.

The upset of the day might seem amusing but pure ratings say everything: Nepal beat Andorra 3 to 1. Only for chess dilletanti it will seem insignificant, while in fact Nepal are very debutants, hardly capable of achieving Elo ratings while Andorra is semi professional, master class team. Here rating difference was close to 200 points. Hats off! Anybody knows how to pronounce Congratulations in Nepali dialect?

In the women's section USA held leading Russia to a draw while Ukraine narrowly beat Hungary in the fierce match. China swept out Latvia 3-0 to move to tied third. Top seed Humpy of India lost to Mkrtchian of Armenia with white pieces.

Standings:
Men: Armenia 24; Russia and Ukraine 22; China, Georgia, USA, France 21.5
Women: Russia 19; Ukraine 18.5; USA and China 17; Georgia 16.5

Crucial pairings for tomorrow: Ukraine-Armenia; Russia-France; Georgia-China; USA-Czech Rep.; India-Uzbekistan

Recommended links:
Detailed results and statistics at Wiener Zeitung page
Susan Polgar's blog
Info about Armenia - as the tiny Caucasian nation is heading towards victory you should be familiar with the country, so please take a look


HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY

Kramnik (RUS, 2729) - Alexandrov (BLR, 2634)
This is a game from yesterday, but only today we learnt what actually happened. Black is to move but his position is not easy to defent. Alexandrov intended to play 18... Kf7 19. Nc5 Bc8 += but for some reason he confused move sequence and played 18... Bc8?? which blunderes a Rook in one move. Once he noticed his error he immediately resigned 1-0.


5. Navara (CZE, 2658) - Svidler (RUS, 2743)
White decided to break the centre 19. d5! another good shot was Nxf7 19... exd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Bxb4 but not 21. Bxd5 due to 21... Nexd5 22. Bxb4 Nf4 -+ 21... Re8 22. Qd2 Qb6 23. Bxe7 Bxc4 24. Rd6 Qc7 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Rd7 +- and 1-0 after 40 moves. In this case it was essential to trade pieces in a proper order.


12. Artunian (GEO, 2532) - Kaiumov (UZB, 2426)
Black has an extra pawn but it is him who would struggle to save the game. White has a pair of active Bishops while black Knight is out of play and pair of Queenside pawns is weak and vulnerable. Kaiumov helps the game to be finished soon 29. Qb7?? 30. Bxd5! +- of course 30... cxd5 would meet 31. Qe8 Kg7 32. Qf8# or 32. Bf8+ in a more sadistic variant. 30... Kg7 31. Qxc6 Now it is White who is a pawn up and the rest was unchanged.


17. Bacrot (FRA, 2708) - Sokolov (NED, 2676)
Bacrot is well shaped in Turin and it must have been a pleasure for him to conduct decisive attack vs Sokolov who suffered deep shock yesterday. The win is simple but you have to be careful 27. Nxf6! but not yet 27. Nxh6? due to 27... Qd3! 28. Qf4 Rd7 and White has nothing in sight 27... Bxf6 28. Rxf6 Kg8 or 28... gxf6 29. Qxh6+ Kg8 30. Bxf6 Qd7 31. Rf1 +- 29. Rg6 Rf7 30. Qxh6 and soon White won 1-0 We are really sorry to see Sokolov concede two spectacular losses on two consecutive days.


20. Van den Doel (NED, 2579) - Vachier-Lagrave (FRA, 2576)
TACTICS TEST. Today is the hard one. White to move. In fact Van den Doel was satisfied with a perpetual check: 36. Qe7+ Kb8 37. Qe8+ Kc7 38. Qe7+ 1/2-1/2, but he missed excellent possibility to win the game. Be better than a 2579! The answer is hidden between the brackets (drag your mouse over it to learn the answer)
[ 36. Nd6! Qxd6 (if 36... Rxd6 then 37. Rf7+ Ka6 38. Qa8+ +-) 37. Rf7+ Kb6 38. Qa8! (threatening Rb7+ and Qa3+) 38... Rh1+ last chance 39. Kxh1 Qxg3 40. Qb7+ and white wins ]


29. Alexandrov (BLR, 2634) - Naiditsch (GE, 2664)
Another nightmare story happened to the Belorussian. In the course of the game he missed easy win, still the diagram position is better for White. He should continue 59. Rh1 c2 60. Rc1 Nd4 61. Kf2 Ke7 62. Ke3 += Instead he chose 59. Kf2?? which loses on spot. Black pawn cannot be stopped without giving away the Rook. 59... c2 60. Rh8+ postponing execution... 60... Kd7 61. Rh7+ Kc6 62. Rh1 Nc5! 63. e6 Nd3+ 0-1 Another one to concede two bad losses. It never rains but it pours!


39. Delchev (BUL, 2640) - Ganguly (IND, 2578)
It is not easy to predict the outcome at first glance. Both sides chave chances to win. Black, who is to move, should stop pair of white pawns at any cost: 45... Be2! 46. a4 Bd1! 47. a5 Be2! and White has to be very careful to draw. Instead the Indian played 45... Bc6? +- 46. Kb6? 46. Ka6! was an easy win paving way to eigth rank for a pawn, e.g. 46... Kxd6 47. b5 Bf3 48. b5 Ke5 49. b7 Bxb7 50. Kxb7 +- Now position is probably drawn. 46... Ba4 47. Kc5 Bc2 48. b5 Kb8? Black is losing again. Correct was 48... Ba4 49. b6 Bc6 50. a4 Bh1 51. a5 Bb7 = Now White wins 49. Kb6 Ba4 too late! 50. Ka6 Kb8 51. d7 1-0 Quite poorly played. We can only guess both players were short of time.


51. Avrukh (ISR, 2633) - Guliev (AZE, 2580)
TACTICS TEST. This is much easier than previous one. White to move and win.
[ 13. Qxb4! Bxb4 14. Nf6+ Kf8 15. Rxd4! +- White has three minor pieces for a Rook. ]


59. Bartel (POL, 2554) - Johannessen (NOR, 2559)
Opening central files is White's only chance to revive the Bishop. 26. d4 a brave attempt 26... cxd4 27. cxd4 Nxd4 28. Rxd4! consistently with the plan 28... exd4 29. e5 Qf5 30. exd6 Rd7 31. Qxd4+ += White sacrificed exchange but pawn on d6 pinnes black Rook. White soon won: 1-0 after 39 moves.


90. Atakisi (TUR, 2419) - Gundavaa (MGL, 2124)
Another piece of tactics, this one is very simple 19. Rxf6! Qxe7 or 19... gxf6 20. Bxf6+ Rxf6 21. Qg8+# 20. Rf7 Qe8 21. Raf1 Rg8 22. Bh6! Bg6 23. Bxg7+ 1-0 Simple and powerful.


See online games from round 8