As expected, experienced Russian team won their fourth ever trophy in the XIIIth Olympiad for Blind and Visually Impaired Players held 16th-24th October 2008 in Heraklion, Crete. Ukraine took silver ahead of surprise Spain. Incumbent Poland came in unlucky fourth.

With 164 players from 34 countries representing all four continental federation the 2008 Olympiad was the biggest event ever held under auspices of IBCA. The Olympiad took place in the beautiful Crete. The playing conditions and the atmosphere were very good.

Team Russia were impregnable from the very start. They took clear first place with 8 wins and one draw. Ukraine fought hard for second stopping Poland with a victorous 2-all draw in the last round. Spain fortunately sneaked in between the two to take their first ever Olympic medal. The best individual result was achieved by three players including a woman: WIM L.Zsiltsova-Lisenko, R.C.Hengles and S.Udupa (8/9).

It is important to point the brand new, official FIDE tie-breaking system was used for the first time. It looks good job at first glance.

official website :: tournament info :: full results