Istanbul Olympic Report

Late Thursday, November 2

Today we lost to Macedonia. 1.5-2.5 No big excuses: we were better after 3 hours but the final hour played havoc with our nerves. That is what experience is all about.

Alex could only draw. I played a horrible 40th and was lucky to save a hopeless ending in 90 moves.

Pascal sacked a piece and had a great position. He agreed to a draw still in a hugely superior position.

David is still finding it difficult to convert superior positions into something tangible.

Tomorrw we have a rest day: I think we can all use the rest! We have had a tough start.

A bit of good news today: the organizing committee has decided that bananas can be brought in! (This is good news for Dale)

Eight rounds left in the Olympiad. We stand in a reasonable position on the score table. Probably we play a much weaker team in the 7th round: this will allow us to catapult into the top boards again.