Final Rounds of Chongqing Olympiad

Team USA-2 prepares before round.  From left to right:
Arthur, Michael (standing), Yian, Kevin and Chris.

Well ... that did not go as planned.  After back-to-back disappointments today, the official team USA-2 finds itself eliminated from medal contention at the World Youth Chess Olympiad.  In the morning, the Americans lost 1.5-2.5 to Kazakhstan, despite an upset win by Kevin Wang against their previously undefeated board 2.  Unfortunately, the afternoon round proved not much better.  Only Yian Liou scored the full point as the team halved the match against another talented Chinese school.  With two rounds remaining, USA-2 fell to 14th place and 3 Match Points out of the medals.

Let's ask Yian what those characters mean.

USA-2 (Official Team)
(click for full results)

14th place with 10 MP, 20.5 GP

6. Defeated Indonesia by 2.5-1.5
7. Lost to Kazakhstan 1.5-2.5
8. Split with BJHD School (China) 2:2
9. Paired against SDQD School (China) 

Check out the great photos of USA-2 players in the round 8 album at the official website.

The tournament has gone even worse for the lower rated USA-1 team.   After sweeping the weak Taiwan delegation, they conceded a third match to the local schools by the frustratingly tight score of 1.5-2.5.  No doubt that some Chinese chess academies have developed strong and underrated players, but the masters from Texas are no slouches themselves with an average USCF rating of 2300!  USA-1 gets another chance against a local school on Sunday.

USA-1 (Extra Team)
(click for full results)

43rd place with 7 MP, 16.5 GP

6. Lost to CQFLHY School (China) 1.5-2.5
7. Defeated Taiwan by 4-0
8. Lost to CQLBNS School (China) 1.5-2.5
9. Paired against CQFLPE School (China)