Crossing the Equator: Week 4 in Division 1 Review
Half the distance is behind and surprisingly we can see exactly the same standings as it was in Season 3!
So Ukraine, Russia, Iceland and Serbia are entering Champions Pool this moment.
France and Argentina performed far below their usual level.
Slovakia and Kazakhstan are in a big trouble.
Nevertheless we enjoyed watching a plenty of exciting games! 
Unfortunately, Team France could gather only 42 boards, far below their record of 69 boards versus Team Russia.
It was not a big pleasure for them to face twice bigger Ukrainian squad with 40 players rated over 2000.
On some lower boards there were difference in rating between opponents up to 1000 (!) points.
But even some strong Ukrainian players met a fierce resistance from French side.
For instance, Ukrainian streamer NM Alexey Yarovinsky @aborigen_came met the same opponent Lubo Blagojevich @blagojevic1969 in all 3 sections – Rapid, Blitz and Bullet!
Stream of NM Alexey Yarovinsky you can watch here
Lubo Blagojevich @blagojevic1969
Their micro-matches in Rapid and Blitz were pretty close and finished draw 1-1, but only in Bullet Ukrainian rating-favorite proved his advantage 2-0.
Those gentlemen played exciting games in Rapid-960.
Playing White @blagojevic1969 found a smart tactical trick 41.Qxc8+ and 42.Qh8 and @aborigen_came lost on time.
Black could draw by 42….Rxh8 43.ghQ Bxh8 44.Bxb6 ab =
No doubts NM Alexey Yarovinsky saw it but couldn`t react instantly being in sharp zeitnot
Next game was also very sharp and double-edged but this time Ukrainian player could rematch.
After another smart trick by French player 23…Qxf6!? it seemed that Black was an upper-side due to Queen promotion.
But @aborigen_came found strong counter argument 25.Qh6+! and 26.Qe3+! with mating threats
Special prize in nomination “Win in Cossack`s style” goes to our leader NM Leonid Starozhilov @leonid_starozhilov.
I enjoyed his attacking Rook maneuver Re5-g5-and sac on g7!
Another prize-winner is candidate master Misha Baloga @balogamisha for his mating attacks in both Random-960 games.
Misha Baloga (left) – doctor and trainer of young chess players in Transcarpatian region
As a usual, our top-streamer @UAArtur broadcasted this match too!
You should definitely look at his special issue:
GM Mikhail Golubev vs Bobby Fischer !!!
Full version of @UAArtur stream from match Team Ukraine - Team France
you can watch here
- Iceland – Argentina: Match of the Week!
If we had “Team of the week” prize it obviously should be given to Team Iceland.
That day mighty Icelandic squad were supported by 58 players among them - 13 (!) titled players!
Probably it was best ever Team Iceland since joining to LCWL.
Accordingly “Admin of the Week” should be named my friend Tómas Veigar Sigurðarson @lakituba
Good job, Tómas!
Tómas Veigar Sigurðarson (on the right) – chess player, arbiter, trainer, organizer, enthusiast and admin
In opposite, Argentina Live Chess gathered only 55 players (compared to almost 100 against Russia and Ukraine).
I wonder what had happened to this solid and well-organized Team.
To my surprise in a couple of days later Argentina Live Chess had 78 players against Team USA in LCPAL game https://www.chess.com/club/matches/live/argentina-live-chess/4005
But in LCWL match Icelandic Dragon had much stronger both “head” and “tail”.
Unfortunately, after his defeat probability of Argentina Live Chess entering to Champions Pool looks very suspicious.
Some good games by both Team players.
I liked aggressive Sicilian attack by FM Jón Kristinn Þorgeirsson @jokksi99
Series of punches 31.Rxf5! 33.Qd3+! 35.Re5+! 37.Qxe8! looks very impresive
IM David Kjartansson @Yuwono proved us again an old chess wisdom:
Opposite-colored bishops is drawish factor in endgame but mating attack factor in middlegame
@Yuwono finished attack with simple but nice Rook`s sac 28…Rxh2+! and mate in 2.
Argentinian player Leonardo Rossi @leitenss outsmarted strong Icelandic titled player FM @Utessimdzhanov, who had rating advantage by almost 400 points.
Bravo!
Another cunning trick – from Argentinian fox José Silva @jokerwin
After 48.Kh3! – no defense from checkmate
Stream of the match from Team Iceland by FM Ingvar Thor Johannesson @zibbit you can watch here
It seems there were a few gamblers ready to bet on Team Kazakhstan in this match.
But I know for sure nobody could predict weird incident happened first in the history of LCWL.
Teams couldn`t play their bullet match due to some troubles with Live Chess Server.
Thanks God they managed to finish blitz and rapid matches, otherwise job done by both admins could be totally wasted
As far as I know, bullet match will be played on 25th of August
Besides expected win of Team Russia, one should mention progress made by Team Kazakhstan.
They had 33 players that day – team`s the best result in Season 4.
Candidate master Stepan Osinovsky @Stepanosinovsky is probably one of the most valuable players of Team Russia.
Besides his role of superadmin and streamer he is also a devoted player who supports his Team in almost all events both in Live and Daily Chess.
Within chess.com community Stepan is famous for winning game in simul versus…..World Champion Magnus Carlsen.
If you don`t believe I`ll give you a proof:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1782242
In both Rapid-960 and Blitz sections @Stepanosinovsky had the same opponent – Kazakh player Aigali Bimanov @aigali
As a rating-favorite @Stepanosinovsky pushed hard and had advantage in all games.
For instance, this typical King`s Indian attack with Black:
His opponent has deserved a respect too scoring a goal after horrible blunder mate in 1 by @Stepanosinovsky
Yeap, guys! Random-960 is a tricky stuff! 
After that the score was 3-1 in favor of CM Stepan Osinovsky
The biggest disappointment of the Week was forfeit by Team Slovakia.
I hope Slovak guys will overcome some difficulties and finish the Season properly.
Regarding Srbija Tim - admins did their job perfectly and gathered a strong squad.
So Serbian admin and captain Nenad Radosevic @nemirena deserved to be portrayed here:
Regards, Nenad!
On Week 5 we will have 2 supermatches:
- Srbija Tim vs Team Ukraine
- Team Russia vs Team Iceland
It`s going to be hot!
LCWL in action: I love this game!
Links on previous rewiews:
