A brisk four draw match vs France brought leading Armenia just one step from the line as they hold safe 2.5 points advantage with last round to go. China and Russia go side by side in a run for silver. Today they have been challenged by the Hungarian team who hit the jackpot trouncing Iceland 4-0.

Nothing can be said about top table match as Armenia keep control over the rest and will safely call at a Port Victory tomorrow to celebrate their first ever Olympic gold. The Czech Republic, who have been doing so well all the time lost 3-1 to China and dropped out the medal chase. Russia have finally did what everybody expects them to do and steamrolled gutsy Cuban team 3-1 with three wins and Swidler losing to Dominguez. The Russian are now lying in third, just a fraction behind China.

Nakamura won second consecutive game for the US but Gelfand beat Kamsky at top board to seal Israeli win over the American team. The two are now in sixth and seventh position respectively. Ukraine produced another miserable display losing to the Netherlands so that both teams occupy positions in the bottom of the top ten.

Canada's win over India was the sensation of the day. Charbonneau beat Anand to produce arguably biggest upset of the entire Olympiad. The Indian nightmare

The nature of the Swiss makes it essential to support good play with a lucky pairing in the last few rounds. A lot of teams showed good chess heretofore but misfortune has forced them out of the top. Teams like Czech Rep., Cuba or Uzbekistan that played major role in the competition, are now lying in 16th position hoping for nothing more than picking tickets for top ten.

Montenegro, a Balkan nation of 650,000 people declared independence from union with Serbia tonight following the referendum decision taken on 21st May to split formal ties with the Serbs. The Serbia & Montenegro team are lying in 30th at the moment, and there are two Montenegrins in the team: GM Kosic at board 3 and Marko Krivokapic at 2nd reserve board. They have been Montenegrin citizens for a few hours and tomorrow will be their first an only chance to play in a Serbian team. By the way, Serbia & Montenegro bid for 2010 Olympiad to be held in Budva, which happens to be part of Montenegro now. The newly emerged country will face its first chcance tomorrow.

In the women's section Ukraine earned decisive advantage defeating India 2.5-0.5. Zhukova contributed greatly to the team's success beating GM Humpy. There were no other major changes at the rest of the tables as most matches went on to draws. Russia and China are comfortably aiming at the podium.

Standings:
Men: Armenia 34; China 31.5; Russia 31; France and Hungary 30.5; Israel 30
Women: Ukraine 28; Russia 26; China 25; USA 23; Armenia 22.5

Key pairings for tomorrow (last round!): Armenia-Hungary; China-Netherlands; Russia-Israel; Bulgaria-France

Recommended links:
Detailed results and statistics at Wiener Zeitung page
Irish team blog - by IM Mark Orr
Malaysian team blog

Note! I am leaving to deliver my baby to the grandparents. Report from round 13 and tournament summary will be delayed for a day or two. Please excuse inconvenience. Family duties are force majeure.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY

9. Kramnik (RUS, 2729) - Bruzon Batista (CUB, 2652)
TACTICS TEST (fairly tough). White to play and win.
[ 26. Bxf7+! Kx7 27. Qa2+ the idea behind this is to keep control over a2-g8 diagonal 27... Kf8 28. Ne6+ Rxe6 29. Qex6 Ne7 30. Re3! Ke8 31. Rf3 Qh5 32. Bd6 1-0 ]


10. Dominguez (CUB, 2647) - Svidler (RUS, 2732)
Another flash from Russia-Cuba match. White has some advantage but Black should conduct Queenside attack. He can do no harm exposing his Kingside. 33... f5? wrong choice. 34. exf5 Bxe3 35. Bxe3 gxf5 36. gxf5 Bxf5 37. Qxb5 Not only White is a pawn up and has a pair of Bishops at his disposal, but also Black's shield went into pieces. 1-0 after 54 moves.


11. Grischuk (RUS, 2719) - Nogueira Santiago (RUS, 2556)
The ending is dead draw. Nothing may happen. Suddenly Nogueira finds excellent suicidal idea 36... g6?? now Black King has been perfectly marooned 37. Bd1+ Kf5 38. Kh3! +- White wins a piece. 1-0 soon.


15. Sutovsky (ISR, 2628) - Nakamura (USA, 2664)
The game is on a whole worth studying. Black has just set a devilish trap. White takes the Greek gift 38. Rxc7? White had to keep an eye on h2 which now goes under Black's control 38... Nf3+ -+ 39. Kf2 h2 40. Rc6+ Kf5 41. f7 41. Rc1 would not be of help: 41... Ng1 42. Kg2 Rd2+ 43. Kh1 Ne1 and Nf3 41... h1=Q 42. f8=Q+ last chance 42... Ke5! 0-1 42... Kg5 would lead to a perpetual check.


17. Ivanchuk (UKR, 2731) - Sokolov (NED, 2676)
TACTICS TEST (quite hard). Sokolov was short on time and he decided to take the draw: 35... Nh4+? 36. Kh2 Nf3+ etc. 1/2-1/2 However he could well win. How?
[ 35... Qe7! (35... Qe6 was worse because of 36. Qd5) 36. Nd2 (another option is 36. Rde1 giving away exchange at once) 36... Rf5! (the Queen is trapped) 37. Qxf3 Rxf3 38. Nxf3 Qe2 39. Rd2 Rxg3+! -+ ]


47. Berkes (HUN, 2593) - Danielsen (ISL, 2520)
Hungary (remember, no Leko and Polgar) hammered Iceland 4-0, which will be a memorable landmark for them. The best game of the match was the following. The ending was vibrant. 40. Nf5! attacking pd6 and Rh6 40... d5 41. Qc3 Kh7 42. Nxh6 1-0 The Knight cannot be recaptured because of Qxc6+ or Rf7+


53. Shirov (ESP, 2699) - Gurevich (TUR, 2643)
That is Shirov's very first win in Turin, but he did it in style. 21. Nxd7! Making use of Black's late development 21... Bxa1 22. Bb5 0-0-0 too late 23. Rd1! 23. Rxa1 was tempting but the Knight is essential 23... e5 23... a6 was less evil but there was no hope whatsoever. 24. c6 a6 25. cxb7 kxb7 26. Qe4+ Ka7 27. Bc6+ 1-0 Immense material losses are inevitable. Well done.


57. Charbonneau (CAN, 2510) - Anand (IND, 2803)
The sensation of the day! Not only young Canadian GM beat Anand but we can put a statement he actually outplayed him! The diagram position is clearly better for White. Anand tries a desperate step. 35... g3? leaving a piece for rout 36. fxe5! simple and effective 36... Nxe4 37. Nxe4 Bxe4 38. Bd3! forces Bishop trade which is not advisable for Black. We bet Vishy overlooked this move. 38... Bxg2+? a gung-ho style. Of course this cannot work. We must praise the Canadian for staying cold blooded. Not every day one beats Anand after all. 39. Qxg2 gxh2 40. Bxg6 Rxg6 41. Ng3 doesn't hurt much, but why not simply 41. Qf3? 41... Rxg3 42. Qe4 Rg4 43. Be7! 1-0 We can only hope miserable performance in Turin will not discourage Anand from travelling to Dresden on the very next occasion in 2008.


297. Zhukova (UKR, 2425) - Humpy (IND, 2548)
Women's competition. 21. Nc4! a strong move. Black can find no antidote for the mortal Ne6 threat. She must capture the Knight after all. 21... Ne6 22. Bg3 dxc4 23. Bxb7 c3 24. Qxc3 cxd4 25. Qb4! +- White has passed pawn and pair of Bishops. 1-0 after 62 moves. Any doubts Ukraine deserves gold?


See online games from round 12