Ukraine-Armenia traded wins on boards #2 and #3  and traded exciting draws on #1 and #4. The Sargissian-Moiseenko draw was thrilling. Vassily Ivanchuk was the last to finish, but could not force a win despite a material advantage against Vladimir Akopian.

Russia squeezed past India 2½-1½ on the strength of Vadim Zvjaginsev's endgame technique in a Q+P vs. Q ending. Surya Shekhar Ganguly tried to harass the white king infinitum. At one point Ganguly placed his black king on a1 to avoid cross-checking possibilities. However, Zvjaginsev eventually placed his own white king to the h8-corner of the board to minimize checking routes. Then he skillfully maneuvered his king and marched the pawn up the board… truly an endgame study.

The marquee game of the match was Viswanathan Anand's crush of Alexander Morozevich's over-ambitious "Fischer Attack" hedgehog (21…g5!?). His plan backfired as the Indian uncorked the brilliant 37.Nf4! when black's position fell like a house of cards. Alexey Dreev was fortunate to win his game against Pentala Harikrishna who missed a combination starting with 27.Rxh2! (see diagram) Players at the ICC were gawking because after 27…Qxh2 white plays 28.Bf4! attacking the queen and threatening mate. Game over.

In Anand-Morozevich, white uncorked the annihilating 37.Nf4! and black's position collapsed immediately.

In Harikrishna-Dreev, white missed the snappy 27.Rxh2! winning at once. On 27…Qxh2, then 28.Bf4! Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1.

After 63…Qxf4+, Zvjaginsev deftly maneuvered his white king up the board and made way for the pawn (114 moves).

Ukraine and Russia are looking over their shoulders after round #9. No… it is not India, but the USA! The team of Russians have vaulted into 3rd place with a stunning (and impressive) win over Spain (A). The USA has now won three matches in a row and will play the Ukraine head-to-head with Ukrainian-born Alexander Onischuk leading the way in a 3½-½ romp.

In a game full of tactical sorties, Shirov sacrificed an exchange for play on the light squares. His attacked quickly fizzled and Onischuk put the USA ahead to stay. The Shabalov-Vallejo game was uncharacteristic of the way the Latvian's games usually end. There is usually a trail of smoke left from Shabalov's pieces, but this win was a methodical "Michael Adams" type of win… just simple and strong moves. Alexander Goldin forced Miguel Illescas Cordoba to take a draw while Gregory Kaidanov crushed Julen Arizmendi.

Barbados makes "Prime Time"

Barbados sat down at board #16 to face the host country Spain "C". The games were being broadcast live and they must have known this because very explosive games took place. The usually solid Delisle Warner sacrificed two pieces to expose the centralized white king, but the extra pieces prove to be adequate protection… that game finished quickly. The second game to finish was the wildest… between Juan Cubas Pons and Philip Corbin. Corbin sacrificed a piece on move 14 and like all good tacticians, his attack came from nothing.  In what looked like a promising attack, white countered accurately and then conjured up a deadly counterattack on Corbin's king… mating him. What a battle!

Kevin Denny's was involved in a pitched battle on top board against Salvador Del Rio Angelis. The game entered tactical complications quickly and it appeared as if the "Bajan" would break through with a virulent attack after 15.Bb4! Bxb4 16.Qb5+ but perhaps missed his chance later when 19.Ne5! was strong. The Spanish GM beat back the attack, simplified and wrapped up the ending.

FIDE Master Delisle Warner (board 2), Team Manager Peter Dawson, Terry Farley (Board 3) and FIDE Master Dr. Philip Corbin in action against Spain. Photo by Allan Herbert.

African-Caribbean scores

Nicaragua 2½-1½ Angola; Aruba 2½-1½ Bermuda; Honduras 3½-½ Botswana;  Cuba 3½-½ Denmark; Hong Kong 3-1 Jamaica;  Suriname 3-1 Kenya;  Libya  2½-1½ Liechtenstein; Mauritius 2-2 Cyprus; Morocco 3-1 Andorra;  Namibia 2½-1½ Papua New Guinea; Netherlands Antilles 2-2 Afghanistan; Rwanda  2-2 U.S. Virgin Islands; Fiji 3½-½ Seychelles; South Africa 3-1 Iraq; Trinidad & Tobago  3½-½ San Marino; Pakistan 2½-1½ Tunisia; Uganda 2½-1½ Nigeria

Report by Dr. Daaim Shabazz, The Chess Drum