U.S. Teams Stumble in Round 10

IM Anna Zatonskih lost to Mongolian IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul in round 10. 

By Alex Marler

Catastrophe in Round 10! After a stunning round 9 performance against the Russian team, the U.S. team slips against China. The U.S. lost the match 2.5-1.5, which dropped the team to 6th place. GM Hikaru Nakamura was paired with black against China's Wang Hao, rated 2726. Hao is fresh off a super-GM tournament win, the Biel Chess Festival, where he finished in clear first place ahead of GM Magnus Carlsen. Also, GM Nakamura competed in the same tournament and lost to Hao with both white and black, so this game was clearly going to be quite a challenge for Nakamura. This board 1 game was fairly equal thoughout. Nakamura played the Slav defense and equalized rather easily. Hao gained an advantage in the endgame, but Nakamura played accurately and held the draw. GM Gata Kamsky played a topical line against GM Wang Yue's Petroff defense, but was unable to get an advantage from the opening. The position remained quite symmetrical and despite Kamsky's best efforts, the game ended in a draw. GM Varuzhan Akobian played the exchange variation against GM Bu Xiangzhi, rated 2670, and basically forced a draw, which was a great result considering the rating difference. GM Alex Onischuk lost a difficult rook and pawn endgame to GM Liren Ding, rated 2695.

The U.S. Women's team drew a tough match with Mongolia in round 10. IM Anna Zatonskih lost to IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul. IM Irina Krush drew WGM Tuvshintugs Batchimeg in an interesting game. WGM Sabina Foisor drew WIM Dulamsuren Yanjindulam, while IM Rusudan Goletiani defeated WIM Bayanmunkh Ankhchimeg. This draw has put the team in 17th place.