Team Fiji Upsets Highly Ranked Aruba
Team Fiji managed to find form in the opening stages of the 44th World Chess Olympiad at Chennai, India, where the women’s team beat Laos and the Open team upset higher ranked Aruba.
In the match against Laos, Board 1 Women’s FIDE Master (WFM) was held off by Sinnalone Sihavong. Board 2 Aarti Sewak responded by beating Inthavong Maly, Board 3 Cydel Kabrina Terubea outwitted Dasavong Moukda and Board 4 Tanvi Radha Prasad convincingly beat Sisouk Chintanakone. The Fijians won 3-1.
Women’s team captain Ryan Lyons was happy to see the team come out with a win in the early stages of the event.
“All the games are held at 4-Points Sheraton Resort in Mahabalipuram where a massive playing hall is constructed within weeks of the World Championship,” said Open team captain Goru Arvind.
“Team Fiji has walked into the tournament with caution since we are up against the best chess players from 187 other countries. We are taking it one game at a time.”
Young players
The Open team faced higher ranked Aruba who were completely stunned by Fiji’s new team with Board 1 Prashant Sarup holding off Brink Peter Van den to a solid draw; Board 2 Avinesh Nadan outplaying Candidate Master (CM) Octavio Croes; Board 3 CM Ronald Terubea winning against CM Jose Pesqueira and Board 4 Rudr Ravi Prasad beating Ilya Stetsenko in a Queen-Pawns endgame. Fiji Open beat Aruba 3.5-0.5.
“All five Open players are playing their first-ever World Chess Olympiad,” said Arvind.
“In fact, this is the youngest Fiji Open team we have ever selected, and it is a pleasure to note that all international debutantes have scored points for Fiji with several rounds remaining.”
In other notable games, Olympiad debutante Prashil Prakash registered a draw with higher ranked Guevara Celia M. Rodriguez of Cape Verde and Tanvi Radha Prasad defeating Caitlin Reid of Scotland.
The 44th World Chess Olympiad is the largest sporting event ever hosted by India with over 2000 chess players, captains and officials with a budget of FJ$22 million whereby athletes are accommodated in four-star to five-star hotels.
Team Fiji athletes are currently accommodated in Esthell Village Resort, which is about 25 minutes away from the playing hall. More updates on the World Chess Olympiad will follow as the event continues.
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