CHESS BY VICTOR STRUGO

The indefatigable Dr Lyndon Bouah has published yet another nationally significant volume, this time as co-author SA’S only overthe-board Grandmaster, Kenny Solomon. “My Game Plan – My quest to becoming a Chess Grandmaster,” is a memoir of Kenny’s road to the coveted title. The book contains 157 analysed games and traces his career from discovering chess in 1992 in Mitchell’s Plain and electing to dedicate himself to the pursuit of excellence while many contemporaries chose a more sinister lifestyle. After national successes, he earned his final norm at the 2012 Olympiad and the GM title was ratified by FIDE after he won the African Championship two years later. For orders, email the author (lyndon.bouah@gmail. com.)

Now living in Italy, Kenny didn’t play in the 2022 SA Open but was once again our top board at the just ended 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India. Against a strong field of 3 GMS, 1 IM and 4 FMS, his 4/9 score led our team (ranked 68th of 188) to a creditable 55th position. The rest of the team comprised SA Open Champion Daniel Cawdery (4/8 points), Daniel Barrish (5/9), Banele

Mhango (5/9) and Watu Kobese (5.5/9).

Barrish (rating 2283) bagged his second GM scalp of the year with a fine win against Egypt’s Ahmed Adly (2582). Zimbabwe also notched up a best-ever result, finishing tied with South Africa on 13 match points and 58th on tie-bread. Most remarkable was that the fancied Norwegian team, ranked *third* and led by World Champion Magnus Carlsen, ended on 12 points, placed 59th behind both Zim and us!

The sensation of the Olympiad was the young India 2 team (the host nation is allowed three) who finished with 18 match points and the bronze medals, ahead of India 1 and the USA. Just ahead with 19 points were Uzbekistan (gold medals) and Armenia (silver).

The parallel Women’s Olympiad was won by Ukraine followed by Georgia (silver) and India (bronze).

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I welcome comments, games and news at victor.strugo@gmail.com. Find local news at www.chesshub.org.za and facebook.com/*