What was seemingly impossible came true. China were so close but yet so far! With last round to go they had a clear 2.5 point advantage over Russia to whom they were to stick on the last day. Unbelievably the Chinese lost 0.5-3.5 missing the title by only half of a point. According to FIDE website the last game between Morozevich and Ni Hua was "a tense finish" and as Moro earned decisive advantage Ni Hua broke down in tears. Other wins came from brilliant Bareev who nothed an amazing 5.5/6 record and from Grischuk who unleashed winning piece sac.

Apart from crazy chase for gold a brisk four draw match vs Cuba secured easy bronze for Armenia, who traditionally win third place in almost every team competition held last years they take part in. Ukraine finished well but it was enough only for taking fourth spot. Then came USA and Israel.

The Chinese conceded their first match loss on day 8 as they were knocked by Armenia by 2.5-1.5 (again, Ni Hua lost his game) but this seemed not very important as Russia dropped a clear point vs Chinese women because of Rublevsky's loss vs Shen Yang, a 16-year old teen.

A four point advantage with just two rounds to be played - had any team ever lost such an advantage on a major international team event so far?

We have to congratulate the organizing committee for their good job as well as the web page stuff for live coverage and extensive daily comments.

Final standings: Russia 22; China 21.5; Armenia 18.5; Ukraine 17.5; USA 16.5; Israel 14.5; Georgia 13.5; Cuba 13; China (w) 7.

Some statistics: of 144 games played white won 45, drew 72 and lost 27 scoring at 56.2% (a bit above long-time average).
A total of 48 GMs took part. Of 9 teams 8 comprised of six GMs and China women had two WGMs and one WIM.
Highest rated player: Ivanchuk (2748).
Biggest upset: Shen Yang (2326) - Rublevsky (2652) 1-0.
Best percetage score: Bareev 5.5/6 (China reserves scored both 100% but played just 1 and 2 games respectively), ELO performed 2968
Prince of draws: Dominguez (Cuba) - 7 draws in 8 games
Quickiest win: Ni Hua - Ibragimov 1-0 (32 moves)
Longest game: Shen Yang (China women) - Zhou Jianchao (China) 0-1 (114 moves)
Most unusual opening: Ibragimov - Shen Yang 1-0 (Bishop Opening 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5)

Read Alon Greenfeld's extensive reports from WTCh official site: round 1; round 2; round 3; round 4; round 5; round 6; round 7; round 8; round 9.

Read ChessBase's illustrated report.

Everyday reports and photos are also available at FIDE site.

Find complete results, games and statistics OlimpBase's page

The all-time statistics are already updated! Check here.

Another big shocker came from rampart Chinese team on day seven as they wiped out desperate Americans by 3.5-0.5 to extend their lead over runners-up Russia up to clear four points. Team USA, that actually has Soviet background with no exceptions, seemed totally helpless struggling vs magic China. Ukraine, who are aiming at reaching third position barely halved vs Cuba because of Ejlanov's bad play. Israel caused another major disappointment losing to Georgia and dropped down to 7th. Now their chances of taking one of podium places are less than minimal.

What will happen in the last two rounds is an open question. The battle for gold is not all over yet. Given that Russia's win over China on the last day by the margin bigger than 3-1 seems near impossibility, if Russia manage to beat China (w) tomorrow by 4-0 then China (m) need to beat Armenia in order to keep safe advantage. On the other hand, China's draw vs Russia on day 9 (or even 1.5-2.5 loss) puts the winning certificates into their hands. The team seeded only 6th perform now at 212 ELO points better than expected! The battle for bronze is even more complex. Armenia earned considerable advantage but need yet to play decent chess vs China tomorrow in order to retain the advantage. Ukraine wasted all kinds of chances and only good finish might save them. This is not all over for USA too but they need to beat Cuba and Israel.

Standings after seven rounds: China 19.5; Russia 15.5; Armenia 14; Ukraine 12.5; USA and Georgia 12; Israel 11.5

Today's matches: ARM-CHN; UKR-ISR; RUS-CHN(w); USA-CUB; GEO bye

Read Alon Greenfeld's extensive reports from WTCh official site: round 1; round 2; round 3; round 4; round 5; round 6.

Read ChessBase's illustrated report.

Everyday reports and photos are also available at FIDE site.

Find complete results, games and statistics of rounds 1-7 at OlimpBase's page

China made another huge step towards the World Championship title as they squeezed today the titleholders Ukraine to retain half of a point advantage over Russia. Ni Hua sealed China's win defeating Moiseenko who blunder under zeitnot in the sharp Kingside biased game. Russia's only win vs Armenia came from board #4 player Bareev who easily ran over Anastasian. USA moved up to third ruthlessly defeating Chinese women while Georgia scored their very first match victory beating underperforming Cuba.

The prospects for future stay unclear. Although Russia will receive a bye (and no points) tomorrow China are yet to face three strongest teams of the event including the last round hit encounter vs Russia. We may safely assume that the Russians will beat Chinese women by 4-0 so that China need to scarpe at least dwo draws in rounds 7-8 in order to be in front before the last round starts. Anyway, it seems like China and Russia are sure to take top two spots. Ukraine are perhaps favourites to take the bronze since they have easiest opposition to play.

Standings after six rounds: China 16; Russia 15.5; USA 11.5; Armenia 11; Ukraine 10.5; Israel 10.

Read Alon Greenfeld's extensive reports from WTCh official site: round 1; round 2; round 3; round 4; round 5.

Read ChessBase's illustrated report.

Find complete results, games and statistics of rounds 1-6 at OlimpBase's page

China moved to the very top of the World Team Championship table as we reached the halfway point of the competition. They scored another impressive victory yesterday as they overwhelmed Georgia by 3.5-0.5 and lead now with 13.5 points still having one match in pocket. Russia are lying in second half of a point behind the Chinese as they beat USA yesterday by only 2.5-1.5 with the winner coming from Bareev who beat Goldin at board #4. Israel defeated Cuba 2.5-1.5 (another result that might not be what they were hoping for) and Ukraine recovered from last days' nightmare hammering Chinese girls by 3.5-0.5. Still they have long way to go as far as podium positions are concerned.

Sunday is the rest day and the remaining rounds will be tough run for Russia and China. Although China have already had a rest they will face considerably tougher opposition than the Russians so everything still may happen.

Standings after four rounds: China 13.5; Russia 13; Israel 10; Armenia 9.5.

Read Alon Greenfeld's extensive reports from WTCh official site: round 1; round 2; round 3; round 4; round 5.

Read ChessBase's illustrated report.

Find complete results, games and statistics of rounds 1-5 at OlimpBase's page

It seems like China and Russia are main condenders for gold. Day 3 saw another big victory by China's team who hammered Cuba by 3.5-0.5. Israel beat Chinese women but only by the smallest margin possible and GM Erenburg lost to Shen Yang. Russia trounced Georgia by 2.5-1.5 and Ukraine lost badly to Armenia with decisive victory coming from Aronian against Ivanchuk at top board. On the next day Israel lost once again vs rampart China and their chances for winning the WTCh title are probably over. Russia defeated Ukraine 2.5-1.5 in the top encounter of the day with the winner coming from Grischuk who defeated Volokytin and Ukrainian lions are another big favourites to say farewell to their winning hopes. Georgia conceded as much as 2 game points vs Chinese women.

Standings after four rounds: Russia 10.5; China 10; Armenia 9.5; Israel 7.5.
Armenia will receive a bye tomorrow while Russia will face USA. China will play Georgia hoping to overtake the Russians.

Read Alon Greenfeld's extensive reports from WTCh official site: round 1; round 2; round 3;

Read ChessBase's illustrated report: http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2718

Find complete results, games and statistics of rounds 1-4 at OlimpBase's page

Two rounds of Beer Sheva World Team Championship have been played so far and none of teams earned considerable advantage over the rest. Russia are in front with 5,5 points ahead of Armenia (5). China's men's team are lying in third but they already had a rest day after ruthless 4-0 over their female country-mates. Olympiad winners Ukraine beat USA 2,5-1,5 on day two while Israel, the hosts took off poorly losing to Russia and halving vs Armenia.

Read round 1 extensite report by Alon Greenfeld.

Find complete results, games and statistics at OlimpBase's page

The four year long World Team Championship cycle will soon reach its sixth buoy as the 2005 event scheduled in Beer Sheva, Israel will start in just a week and a half. World's top 10 teams will arrive, including Hamilton-Russel Cup holders Ukraine, multipy medal winners Russia and newly crowned European Champions Holland. As in past years the event will be the four board round robin. Sum of game points will be decisive about final standings.

The Championship official home page is now available at http://www.wccisrael.com. It provides wide variety of interesting information and is certainly worth of visiting.

Also, please find OlimpBase's WTCh complete history here (to our knowledge this is the only document on WTCh hitsory available worldwide).
Here is Beer Sheva home page maintained by OlimpBase.

The Beer Sheva Championship attracted many World's top players to make the event highly competitive. Unfortunately we are missing India, Bulgaria, Hungary and other nations that gave the world some brilliant players so we shall see neither the magic play of newly crowned World Champion Topalov nor the tusks of the Madras Tiger Anand there. Below is the full listing of WTCh qualifiers. Please note: Egypt, African Team Champions were eligible to play but did not apply.

team	ELOav	how they qualified	squad
1. Russia	2715	2. Olympiad	Svidler, Grischuk, Dreev, Morozevich, Motylev, Bareev
2. Ukraine	2698	1. Olympiad	Ivanchuk, Ponomariov, Volokityn, Moiseenko, Eljanov, Karjakin
3. Israel	2674	hosts	Gelfand, Sutovsky, Smirin, Avrukh, Erenburg, Roiz
4. Armenia	2673	3. Olympiad	Aronian, Akopian, Asrian, Vaganian, Lputian, Anastasian
5. USA	2616	4. Olympiad	Goldin, Onischuk, Gulko, Kaidanov, Novikov, Ibragimov
6. China	2615	1. Asian TCh	Bu, Liang, Zhang Z., Zhang P., Ni
7. Georgia	2610	invited team	Azmaiparashvili, Jobava, Giorgadze, Pantsulaia, Mchedlishvili, Gagunashvili
8. Cuba	2603	1. Panamerican TCh	Dominguez, Bruzon, Delgado, Nogueiras,Arencibia, Quezada
9. China (w)	2458	invited team	Hou, Zhao, Wang, Gong, Huang, Shen
Netherlands	-	1. Europeaan TCh	withdrew

The European Team Championship has long, almost 50 year old history and most of European top players, including chess legends like Botvinnik, Tal, Spassky, Karpov and Kasparov, took part. With lots of memorable moments and plenty of good chess the ETC certainly deserves its place in the history. Unfortunately nothing like that has ever been done before. This is why we decided to fill the gap. Since today the online history of men's and women's Championship is available along with all-time statistics. Watch all the games, see all the results, learn all the players.

Men's European Chess Team Championship history
Women's European Chess Team Championship history

(Please note: we were working in a hurry. Apart from 1957 and 1961 events, that have already been fully documented, the tournament reviews and game highlights are missing. Also two games from 1992 are not known so far.)

Selected must-see highlights:
Vienna 1957: Yugoslavia defeats the Soviet Union >> watch here
Hamburg 1965: Szabo and Bilek lead Hungary to a win over USSR >> watch here
Skara 1980: Sweden beat Hungary at home >> watch here
Haifa 1989: Finland take 4th spot to produce biggest upset ever >> watch here
Batumi 1999: Slovak girls win the Championship >> watch here
Gothenburg 2005: Russia beat negative all-time record lying in 14th >> watch here

Trivia:
- The women's event was introduced in 1992. First women to appear at men's ETC were the Polgar sisters in 1989.
- Until 1983 the round robin system was in use preceeded by preliminaries. At most 8 teams qualified to the championship final. The Swiss system was adopted in 1989. Since 2003 the match points are major tie-break.
- The Soviet Union won 9 trophies in 9 appearences. Then, Russia and Holland won 2 times. England and Armenia complete the winner list. In women's section none of the teams won more than once!
- None of the teams from men's section took part in all of 15 editions. Serbia and Montenegro, formerly known as Yugoslavia were absent only once, in 1997. In 1992 they arrived and played round 1 match but were soon expelled.
- Viktor Kortschnoj appeared 11 times at the ETC making it absolute all-time record. Jonathan Speelman comes next with 9 appearances followed by Beliavsky, Gligoric, Petrosjan and Portisch. Only three ladies appeared in each of six women's events held so far: Anna-Maria Botsari, Mara Jelica and Marina Makropoulou.
- Petrosian was the only man to win 8 team gold medals.