Armenia beats France; USA women defeat Russia
![Hou Yifan-Lahno Russia-Armenia](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/www.chessvibes.com/plaatjes/olympiad2008/r8/290/http/59d256a84e.jpg)
Round 8 press conference with, among others, Henrik Carlsen and blitz world champion Leinier Dominguez:
The big news in the women's section was of course the USA blowing away Russia 3-1, shattering world champion Kosteniuk and her team's last hopes to win the gold medal. Krush's opening and early middlegame didn't look very healthy, but the way Kosteniuk tried too refute it was just too bombastic. Zatonskih provided that it's quite possible to play for a win with the Petroff and that was it - with two meaningless draws on boards 3 and 4 Russia went off and took their cold shower.China was held to 2-2 again, this time by Ukraine. Zhao Xue smashed Natalia Zhukova on board two (husband Grischuk might have to explain some details of that Tarrasch once more) but Gaponenko beat Ju Wenjun to level the score.Germany-Estonia was a fightful tie, in which all games were won by White, and Poland did a very good job with their 3-1 against Hungary. Armenia was clearly superior to Azerbaijan (4-0) and Argentina upset Czech Republic 2?Ǭ?-1?Ǭ?. Sweden beat neigbour Norway 4-0; their board one Pia Cramling is now on six out of six!Perhaps we shouldn't overestimate China's chances; they play Serbia today who are just one match point behind, like Poland, Ukraine and USA. By the way on board two, yes it's true, Luxembourg plays, against Germany.Results and standings in both the Open and Women's sections:[TABLE=490] [TABLE=491] [TABLE=492] [TABLE=493] [TABLE=494] [TABLE=495] Here's a selection of round 8 games for replay:
![Bacrot and Aronian](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/3047834471_cf30528539.jpg?v=0/http/2034dc7d91)
Bacrot and Aronian, moments before they'll start their latest test of the Marshall...
![Spectators](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/3047834701_1443ed9fea.jpg?v=0/http/baafc03ad0)
...with many, many spectators and players at the background
![Aronian, Petrosian, Akopian](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/3048672476_01ea9f20fa.jpg?v=0/http/5db4d4c177)
This is what self-confidence looks like
![Fressinet](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/3047834255_53a140b32b.jpg?v=0/http/6de69b32c7)
Laurent Fressinet, no in such a bad mood either
![Lahno - Hou Yifan](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/3048672298_28839d894f.jpg?v=0/http/29ee7b32d8)
Lahno versus Hou Yifan was the top board of Ukraina-China match
![Ju Wenjun](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/3048672250_3bca38522c.jpg?v=0/http/a34576a116)
Ju Wenjun, board four of China, lost to...
![Gaponenko](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/3048674102_9d244806e8.jpg?v=0/http/d92d3792d6)
...Inna Gaponenko
![Grischuk-Nakamura](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/3048674884_97a8cd8026.jpg?v=0/http/a47f952085)
Grischuk defeated Nakamura in the match Russia-USA...
![Jakovenko-Akobian](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/3048672904_e90c21fa33.jpg?v=0/http/104af953fe)
...in which Jakovenko beat Akobian
![Topalov](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/3048672088_521c79d716.jpg?v=0/http/260f660320)
Veselin Topalov, clear favorite for gold with his 5.5/6 and a 2936 performance
![Ivanchuk](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/3047835281_3e5aa6e2af.jpg?v=0/http/657a944cd2)
Vassily Ivanchuk, performing slightly under his rating with 5/8
![Gelfand](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/3048673988_6251811a0d.jpg?v=0/http/7bd070dfda)
Boris Gelfand, in the race for a gold medal on board one for Israel, now on 5.5/7 and a 2835 performance
![Almasi](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/3048673372_17985b7d10.jpg?v=0/http/79430ecbe6)
Zoltan Almasi, board three of Hungary
![Beliavsky](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/3048673090_9bbeed972e.jpg?v=0/http/9036dced63)
The experienced Alexander Beliavsky, playing his 14th Olympiad and his 7th for Slovenia
![Miezis and Sveshnikov](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/3048673456_04edce12ca.jpg?v=0/http/424efb9710)
Latvia's boards one and two: Normunds Miezis and Evgeny Sveshnikov
![Bologan](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/3047835759_9215e39bc1.jpg?v=0/http/a7288ca94c)
Viktor/Viorel Bologan, Moldova's top player
![Kasimdzhanov](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/3047835823_b645c3b422.jpg?v=0/http/208b739776)
Former FIDE World Champiom Rustam Kasimdzhanov
![Kosteniuk](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/3047836597_db5c92b053.jpg?v=0/http/00f373761e)
World champ Alexandra Kosteniuk overestimated her position
![Judit](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/3047836677_566ab7264f.jpg?v=0/http/ca1462ddaa)
Judit Polgar, unsuccessful at the world blitz and now underperforming in Dresden as well
![Australia](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/3048673532_5480d68b0d.jpg?v=0/http/130ea6f4d2)
Luckless Australia with Zong-Yuan Zhao, David Smerdon, Stephen Solomon and poor Darryl Johansen
![Chuchelov](https://images.chesscomfiles.com/proxy/farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3048673418_dba71a9846.jpg?v=0/http/4c457e5844)
A satisfied Vladimir Chuchelov, who saw his team from The Netherlands beating Philippines 3?Ǭ?-?Ǭ?
- Official website
- All results and standings
- (Live) games for replay
- ICC's Chess.FM blog with videos and lots of other stuff
- GM Ian Rogers blogging for Chess Life Online
- ChessVibes Photos @ Flickr
- Olimpbase
- TWIC's games in PGN: Men rd 1, Women rd1, Men rd 2, Women rd2, Men rd 3, Women rd3, Men rd 4, Women rd4, Men rd 5, Women rd5, Men rd 6, Women rd6, Men rd 7, Women rd7, Men rd 8 & Women rd8