The 2001 FIDE world championship finalist´s fourth win in as many starts propelled Ukraine to 14.5 points and maintained their position at the top of the standings. The other Ukrainians, Ponomariov, Volokitin and Moiseenko, drew with Grischuk, Khalifman and Zviagintsev, respectively, on the other boards. 

In round 5, the leaders will have white on boards 1 and 3 against Israel (14 points!) who defeated Bulgaria 3.5-0.5, GM Boris Gelfand winning spectacularly on board one against GM Kiril Georgiev after sacrificing his steed on f7.

The Russians (on 12 points) are tied with Azerbaijan (who defeated Scotland 2.5-1.5, GM Teimour Radjabov pressing GM Jonathan Rowson and exploiting the latter´s "deadly sins" from the start on board 1) and Slovakia who had a strong performance against Moldova (3.5-0.5). Azerbaijan will next play Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovakia will play Russia.

England´s top player GM Michael Adams kept pace with Ivanchuk by securing the only win in the match (and his fourth from as many starts!) as Queen Elizabeth II´s men defeated Canada 2.5-0.5. Adams´victim was the talented IM Pascal Charbonneau.

Cuba continued to play well defeating Holland 2.5-1.5, GM Lazaro Bruzon defeating GM Loek Van Wely on the top board for the only decisive game of the match. The Cubans (on 11.5) will next face France (11). The Dutch and Vietnam, both on 10.5, will face each other.

India´s GM Vishwanathan Anand drew with Ukrainian-born GM Alexander Onischuk on board 1 but India still beat the USA after wins by GMs Harikrishna and Kunte over GMs Shabalov and Goldin, on boards 2 and 3, respectively. GM Novikov got the Americans´sole win by prevailing over GM Sandipan on board 4. India (11.5) will face Armenia (11.5) and the USA (10.5) clash with Uzbekistan (10.5) next.

Although GM Alexei Shirov drew on board 1, Spain A with 3 victories beat Macedonia 3.5-0.5. The Spanish on 11.5 will next face Georgia on 11.

HEROIC PERFORMANCE

Jamaica and Malaysia played to a tough 2-2 tie, with a win each and two draws. On board one Shane Matthews did not get the  birthday gift he would have liked as his Sicilian was worn down by FM Mok Tze-Meng. On board two Duane Rowe (2197) dismantled the Sicilian Dragon of his much higher rated opponent FM Lim Yee-Weng (2346) . Probably appreciating that it was National Heroes Day in Jamaica,  Russel Porter finally "got on the board" with a heroic performance on board 3 against Leong Mun Wan. Down a piece, the Jamaican fought gallantly to hold the position and was clearly relieved after 3 straight losses. Malaku Lorne drew his 3rd of 4 games on the bottom board. In the round 5 the Jamaicans (5.5 points) will have the white pieces on boards 1 and 3 against the higher rated Libya team, also on 5.5.

Barbados, with wins by IM Kevin Denny and FM Phillip Corbin on boards 1 and 4, respectively, drew with Austria 2-2, Terry Farley and FM Delisle Warner both losing, the latter to IM Martin Neubauer who visited Jamaica a few months ago. Barbados, doing well on 8 points, will have Bolivia (8) as their next opponents.

Trinidad & Tobago, who rested Ravishen Singh, their surprise board one, had wins by Christo Cave and Frank Yee on boards 1 and 3, respectively, to turn back Monaco 2.5-1.5. WIM Julia Lebel-Arias obtained the losers´sole victory by defeating Joffrey Marcelle on board 4. The ¨Trinis¨ (5.5) will next play Honduras (5.5).

Interestingly, Seychelles fielded a woman player on board one but Petrina Valentin lost to Jose Antonio Silveirinha as Macao won 3.5-0.5.

CHINESE WOMEN ON TOP

China, the defending champions, led by GM Xie Jun´s victory over IM Ketino Kachiani on board one, showed their class against Germany winning 2.5-0.5 and look ominous at the top of the standings on 11 points. The Russians are  in second place after beating the USA 2-1. On board 1 GM Susan Polgar drew with IM Alexandra Kosteniuk and so did IM Kovalevskaya and WGM Zatonskih on board 3. The fate of the match was decided on board two where WGM Tatiana Kosintseva was too good for IM Irina Krush.

 In round 5, China will face England (9.5), Ukraine (9.5) will play Russia (9.5), Germany and France (9 each) will battle, India (9) will play Poland (8.5) and the USA will seek to revive hopes against Sweden, both teams being on 8.5.

Trinidad and Tobago beat the US Virgin Islands 3-0 to register their first victory of the campaign and move to 4.5, the same as neighbours Venezuela, ironically their next opponents.

19th October, 2004
Ian G. Wilkinson
Captain, Jamaica
Hotel Acorn Pionero
Santa Ponsa Park, Mallorca