Although only a third of the competition has gone China, the defending champions in the women´s competition, seem well on course to defend their title after establishing a 3-point lead. In yesterday´s 5th round they easily defeated England 3-0, GM Xie Jun again leading the way by outclassing IM Harriet Hunt on board 1. The women from the land of the Great Wall are now on 14 points and will face Russia, in second place on 11, in the next round. GM Xie Jun will do battle against IM Alexandra Kosteniuk on board 1.

Ukraine and Russia played to a  draw with a win apiece and a draw. IM Almira Skripchenko and IM Ketino Kachiani drew on board 1 as did IM Marie Sebag and WGM Elisabeth Paehtz on board 2, but France had a good 2-1 win over Germany thanks to WIM Sophie Milliet´s win over WIM Nill Jesica on board 3. The French and Ukraine, both on 11 points, will clash on board two in the 6th round. Germany (6th on 10 points) will next face Sweden (12th on 10 points). The USA and Sweden also drew after a win apiece, WGM Zatonskih beating WIM Agrest and WIM Johansson beating WIM Shahade. GM Pia Cramling drew with GM Zsuzsa (Susan) Polgar on board 1.

India and Poland drew on all 3 boards. India, 5th on 10.5 points, will next face Hungary (9th on 10). The USA (8th on 10 points) will next play Georgia (10th on 10 points) who defeated Latvia 2-1. The clash between former women´s world champions GM Susan Polgar and GM Maia Chiburdanidze is eagerly anticipated.

Trinidad & Tobago lost 0-3 to Venezuela and will face New Zealand tomorrow. Both teams are on 4.5 points.

UKRAINE MAINTAIN LEAD

In the men´s section, Israel and Ukraine played to a tough 2-2 tie. The hot hot hot GM Vassily Ivanchuk faced GM Boris Gelfand´s Petroff on board one and battled gallantly but had to share the point. The games Ponomariov/Sutovsky, Volokitin/Smirin and Eljanov/Avrukh on boards 2 to 3, respectively, were also all drawn.

Spain "A", behind good victories from GM Alexei Shirov on board 1 against GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili and on board 2 by GM Francisco Vallejo Pons over GM Giorgi Kacheishvili, beat Georgia 2.5-1.5.

Russia bounced back from yesterday´s defeat to Ukraine by beating Slovakia 2.5-1.5, GM Alexander Grischuk getting the only win in the match by mauling GM Lubomir Ftacnik on board 2 in a violent Sicilian.

In the 6th round Ukraine (16.5) will face the youthful Azerbaijan (3rd on 15), Israel (2nd on 16) will face Russia, still dangerously placed in 4th on 14.5.

JAMAICA STILL SEARCHING FOR FIRST WIN

The Jamaicans lost 0.5-3.5 to a tough Libyan team and are still searching for their first win. Duane Rowe, making his board one debut after Shane Matthews was rested, lost to Abobker Elarbi while Malaku Lorne lost to Hussein Asabri on board three. Team captain Ian Wilkinson, making his Olympiad debut as player, played the Sicilian Sveshnikov with the black pieces and got a promising position against Libya´s only titled player FM Ibrahim Chahrani after 25 moves but went awry and lost. Russel Porter continued his recovery with his second staright draw, holding Saleem Ali Maoloud on board 2. Jamaica (on 6 points) will tackle Guernsey (on 5) in the next round.

Honduras beat Trinidad & Tobago 3.5-0.5, FM Mario Merritt getting the half point on board 4. The "Trinis", on 6 points, will face the British Virgin Islands (6.5) in the next round.

Barbados fought hard but lost 1-3 to Bolivia, FM Phillip Corbin continuing his fine run (4/5) winning on board 4 against Alfredo Cruz. The "Bajans" (9 points) will next play a tough Portugal team, also on 9.

20th October, 2004
Ian Wilkinson
Captain, Jamaica
Press Centre
Gran Casino Mallorca,
Mallorca, Spain