Ninth seed Armenia, winner of the last Chess Olympiad, held second seed Ukraine to a 2-2 tie in open division play Sunday, drawing all four games in their match in the fourth round of this year's event.
The highlight of the day was a 68-move tussle between Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk, rated third in the world, and Armenian Levon Aronian, rated seventh. Both players had their chances in a game that went all the way down to just the two kings on the board when they shook hands.
The 13-day 38th Chess Olympiad that started Thursday includes 146 teams in the open division — often referred to as the men's division although it includes a few women — and 111 in the separate women's division.
In other matchups, top seed Russia survived a scare to beat India 2.5-1.5.
Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia stood worse against India's Krishnan Sasikiran on board one and Penteala Harikrishna beat Peter Svidler on board two. But Kramnik held the draw and Alexander Grishuk and Alexander Morozevich won on the bottom two boards to give Russia the match.
Germany defeated Spain 2.5-1.5 — a win that makes it and Russia the only teams with 4-0 scores and will pit them against one another in round five.
Meanwhile, the United States team suffered its first loss of the tournament, 3-1, at the hands of fourth seed Azerbaijan, whose two young stars, Teimour Radjabov and Shakhriyar Madedyarov, beat Gata Kamsky and Hikaru Nakamura on the top two boards.
In other matches, Norway and England tied 2-2; Hungary beat Romania 3-1; Bosnia and Herzegovina stomped on Ireland 3.5-0.5; Israel defeated Egypt 2.5-1.5; Scotland edged Canada 2.5-1.5; and Australia annihilated Guernsey 4-0.
The following teams have 3.5 points (listed in order of seeding): Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Armenia, England, Norway, and the Netherlands. Twenty-four teams have three points.
On the women's side, India defeated Germany 3-1 on wins from Sachdev Tania and Mary Ann Gomes. China steamrolled Armenia 3.5-0.5, Georgia and Hungary drew 2-2, Poland beat Serbia 2.5-1,5.
That leaves China and Poland as the only teams with 4-0 scores. Russia, Georgia, Hungary, and India have 3.5 points. 22 teams have three points.
The U.S. women moved to 3-1 by defeating Moldova 3 games to 1 behind wins with Black by Irina Krush and Rusudan Goletiani.
In other women's matches, Russia stomped on Indonesia 4-0; England beat Canada 2.5-1.5; Australia overcame El Salvador 2.5-1.5; Scotland plundered Ireland 4-0; and New Zealand tied the Dominican Republic 2-2.
Round five takes place on Monday before an off day Tuesday.
In the open division it will be: Germany-Russia; Armenia-Netherlands; Hungary-Ukraine; Norway-Azerbaijan; England-Italy; India-Austria; USA-Hong Kong; Yemen-Canada; South Africa-Luxembourg; Wales-Pakistan; New Zealand-UAE; Australia-Singapore.
Women's division play pairs: Poland-China; Russia-Georgia; India-Hungary; Lithuania-England; USA-Norway; Italy-Australia; Nigeria-Canada; Portugal-Scotland; Philippines-New Zealand.
The Russia-Georgia match is the first time the two teams face each other since this summer's conflict between the two countries.
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