The FIDE World Senior Team Championship in Acqui Terme, Italy, crossed the halfway mark. The event brought together 43 teams from 24 federations competing in the 50+ and 65+ categories (9-round Swiss tournaments).
It has been a very close race in the 50+ section so far, as, after five rounds, two rating-favourites of the tournament, England 1 and USA, are tied for the top position winning four matches each and drawing their direct encounter in Round 4 ( Michael Adams beat Gregory Kaidanov but Igor Novikov bested Mark Hebden).
Italy (pictured below) and Iceland also scored four team victories each but lost to the leaders (the USA and England respectively), trailing them only by one point.
As England and the USA seem unstoppable now, most likely, the winner in this category will be decided by the game points. England, headed by Michael Adams and Nigel Short, is slightly ahead by two points, but closing this gap doesn’t look like an impossible task for team USA.
Top-10 after Round 5
|
1 |
England 1 |
9 |
15½ |
|
2 |
USA |
9 |
13½ |
|
3 |
Italia 1 |
8 |
15½ |
|
4 |
Iceland |
8 |
13½ |
|
5 |
Georgia Winery Khareba |
7 |
13½ |
|
6 |
Hungary |
6 |
12½ |
|
7 |
Canada |
6 |
12½ |
|
8 |
Still active NL |
6 |
12 |
|
9 |
Germany 1 |
6 |
10½ |
|
10 |
Sweden |
5 |
10½ |
England is also leading the field in the 65+ tournament, scoring 9/10. Germany lost to the leader in Round 4 but won four other matches and is sitting in second place. Hungary, Israel 2 and France are one point behind, sharing the third position. Somewhat surprisingly, the rating favourite, Israel 1 is only seventh, already losing two matches.
With four rounds to go, it is still wide open, although England also has a fair shot for gold in the 65+ category.
Top-10 after Round 5
|
1 |
England 1 |
9 |
14 |
|
2 |
Germany 1 |
8 |
12 |
|
3 |
Hungary |
7 |
12½ |
|
4 |
Israel 2 |
7 |
12 |
|
5 |
France |
7 |
11 |
|
6 |
Switzerland |
6 |
13 |
|
7 |
Israel 1 |
6 |
12½ |
|
8 |
Germany 2 |
6 |
11 |
|
9 |
Steiermark |
6 |
10½ |
|
10 |
SC Kreuzberg |
6 |
10½ |
