The US Chess Federation has announced a powerhouse line-up for the 44th Chess Olympiad, which takes place in Chennai, India this summer. The 2016 gold medal winners look set to be the huge favourites to win with their biggest contenders Russia, and possibly China, absent.
Sam Shankland lifts the trophy after the US beat Ukraine to 2016 Olympiad gold on tiebreaks | photo: Lana Afandiyeva
The USA announced the following line-up with an average rating of 2772 for the top 4 players.
The top 4 are all ranked among the world's top 12 players, while Shankland is currently 25th. Three-time gold-medalist Levon Aronian will play his first team event event for the USA after his transfer from Armenia.
“The USA team is breathtaking” Viswanathan Anand told Indian media before the announcement.
US #4 Hikaru Nakamura is a notable absentee on the American team. The full-time chess streamer, who is now focused on the Candidates Tournament, said in February that he didn't consider it likely he would be playing.
A lot depends on what happens with the ratings in the next months. If I am not in the top four, there is a 0% chance of me playing. So I would say right now the odds of me playing are probably like 5%. I am not going to play as a reserve.
The US team will regardless be favourites to secure the gold medals they captured in 2016, while they had to settle for silver behind China in 2018.
Russia would be key contenders for gold medals, but FIDE suspended their national teams along with Belarus from taking part in the Chess Olympiad due to the invasion of Ukraine.
According to chess24's sources, China's participation this year appears to be in doubt, which means the Olympiad could be without two of the favourites.
France, on paper also contenders for the top spots, were dealt a huge blow as their star players Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Alireza Firouzja both decided to skip the Olympiad. Laurent Fressinet spoke about the issue during an episode of the Chicken Chess Club podcast with Jan Gustafsson and Peter Heine Nielsen, where he also revealed Etienne Bacrot will be missing.
It's a pity because we would have been number 3. Maxime explained to me that he would have played if Alireza would play. He has some health issue, some gastric problem for the last three years, so it's not pleasant to go to India for him.
Maxime himself explained the decision by the weather situation in Chennai. Temperatures can reach more than 40 degrees in the Indian coast city in July.
In general it was a tough decision, but both Alireza and I thought we need a rest. And I was kind of aware of the climatic situation in summer, where I feel I could get sick and be almost certain I wouldn’t be performing to the best of my abilities, so it’s sad, but I will be missing my first Olympiad since 06, if we don’t count the online Olympiad.
The French team is yet to be announced, but Fressinet did reveal he will be a part of the team.
Key rivals for the USA may be Azerbaijan, who are fielding their strongest team with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov, Gadir Guseinov, Rauf Mamedov and Vasif Durarbayli.
Anand will not feature for host nation India, but the former World Champion has worked alongside Boris Gelfand as a coach before the event. The 2014 bronze medalists will have a powerful team with Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, Arjun Erigaisi, SL Narayanan and Krishnan Sasikiran.
As the host nation, India will also feature a very strong second team that could fight for medals: Nihal Sarin, D. Gukesh, B. Adhiban, R. Praggnanandhaa and R. Sadhwani. They may even get to nominate a 3rd team if there's an uneven number of entries.
Some other notable nations have also announced their teams.
The German team is also strong, led by chess24's Jan Gustafsson.
Magnus Carlsen will also play for Norway, with the World Champion trying to repeat the feat from 2016, when a weaker team finished 5th.
In the Women's section, there will also be big chances for other teams, as Russia and China have dominated previous Olympiads, winning 6 out of the last 9.
Ukraine, with the Muzychuk sisters, are expected to be favourites, but a team has not yet been announced. One contender could be Poland with Alina Kashlinskaya, who has now transferred from Russia.
The 44th Chess Olympiad takes place from July 28 to August 10. The venue will be the convention center at the Four Points by Sheraton in Mahabalipuram, near Chennai.
At least 187 nations are expected to participate in the event, breaking the record set by Batumi 2018 to make it the biggest Chess Olympiad ever.
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