Azerbaijan Beat Russia In Ningbo
Leaders Russia tumbled to a surprise 3-1 defeat to Azerbaijan in round four of the World Team Chess Championships in Ningbo, China.
Vugar Gashimov (pictured) beat Alexander Grischuk, and Gadir Guseinov beat Peter Svidler. Russia's loss was very costly, dropping them to fourth in the standings.
Armenia took over the lead thanks to a 3½-½ demolition of bottom seeds Egypt.
Ukraine's poor form continued as they lost 2½-1½ to Hungary thanks to a Peter Leko win against Vassily Ivanchuk.
India also edged Israel 2½-1½, while the US team slumped to a 3½-½ loss to China.
The results in round four:
| Russia | 1-3 | Azerbaijan | ||
| Karjakin Sergey | 2788 | ½ - ½ | Radjabov Teimur | 2744 |
| Grischuk Alexander | 2746 | 0 - 1 | Gashimov Vugar | 2760 |
| Nepomniachtchi Ian | 2711 | ½ - ½ | Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2765 |
| Svidler Peter | 2739 | 0 - 1 | Guseinov Gadir | 2625 |
| Ukraine | 1½-2½ | Hungary | ||
| Ivanchuk Vassily | 2768 | 0 - 1 | Leko Peter | 2717 |
| Eljanov Pavel | 2697 | ½ - ½ | Almasi Zoltan | 2726 |
| Efimenko Zahar | 2706 | ½ - ½ | Polgar Judit | 2699 |
| Moiseenko Alexander | 2715 | ½ - ½ | Balogh Csaba | 2643 |
| Israel | 1½-2½ |
India | ||
| Sutovsky Emil | 2700 | 0 - 1 |
Harikrishna Pentala | 2669 |
| Roiz Michael | 2669 | ½ - ½ | Sasikiran Krishnan | 2681 |
| Smirin Ilya | 2676 | ½ - ½ | Ganguly Surya Shekhar | 2627 |
| Nabaty Tamir | 2584 | ½ - ½ | Gopal G.N. | 2576 |
| USA | ½-:3½ | China | ||
| Kamsky Gata | 2741 | ½ - ½ | Wang Hao | 2718 |
| Onischuk Alexander | 2675 | 0 - 1 | Wang Yue | 2709 |
| Shulman Yuri | 2617 | 0 - 1 | Li Chao B | 2669 |
| Seirawan Yasser | 2635 | 0 - 1 | Yu Yangyi | 2672 |
| Armenia | 3½- ½ | Egypt | ||
| Movsesian Sergei | 2700 | 1 - 0 | Adly Ahmed | 2631 |
| Akopian Vladimir | 2667 | 1 - 0 | Amin Bassem | 2609 |
| Sargissian Gabriel | 2663 | ½ - ½ | Shoker Samy | 2475 |
| Hovhannisyan Robert | 2556 | 1 - 0 | Ezat Mohamed | 2430 |
FIDE are covering the championships here, and a live relay of the games (starting at 15:00 local time in Ningbo) can be found at the official Chinese site here. Games remain available for replay at the live link until the start of the next round.
The teams score 2 points for a match win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. The first tie-break is board points scored.
The standings after four rounds:
| 1 | Armenia | 6 | 11.0 |
| 2 | Azerbaijan | 5 | 9.5 |
| 3 | China | 5 | 9.5 |
| 4 | Russia | 5 | 9.0 |
| 5 | Hungary | 5 | 8.0 |
| 6 | Ukraine | 4 | 8.0 |
| 7 | Israel | 4 | 7.5 |
| 8 | India | 3 | 7.0 |
| 9 | USA | 3 | 7.0 |
| 10 | Egypt | 0 | 3.5 |
Vugar Gashimov overcame Alexander Grischuk
Sergey Movsesian beat Adly Ahmed as Armenia crushed Egypt
Peter Leko (right) beat Vassily Ivanchuk to give Hungary the win
The US team (left) lost heavily to the hosts, China
Pictures from the FIDE website. More here.
