Indians rank second to Russia

MUMBAI: India have been seeded for the Chess Olympiad, starting in Turin, Italy, on May 20. The Viswanathan Anand-led team, with an average rating of 2688, have been seeded second behind Russia. It is the first time that the Indian team has got a top three seeding at the Olympiad.

 

The team, comprising K Sasikiran, P Harikrishna, SS Ganguly, Sandipan Chanda and DP Singh, besides world No. 2 Anand, has a realistic chance winning a medal for the first time at the biannual event. The top three Indian players - Anand, Sasikiran and Harikrishna - have a far higher rating than the last time. Both Sasi and Hari have swelled their Elo rating by about 100 points since the last Olympiad in Spain two years ago, where India were rated fifth. India had finished sixth then, the best-ever performance by the team in the 70-year history of the championship.

 

The team had a 15-day coaching camp under Elizaber Ubilava, a one-time second of Anand, in Goa recently. They will leave for Turin on May 18. 

 

Coach Ubilava is hopeful that the team will finish in the medal bracket. “I’m confident we’ll return with a medal this time, if not gold,” said the veteran GM from Spain.

 

Harikrishna too is confident the team would break the 70-year jinx.

 

“With Anand playing, we’ve a strong chance. The key for us will be to score big points against the weak teams,” said Hari who, at 20, is a veteran of four Olympiads.