In Istanbul, several hours before starting The 40th Chess Olympics it was cleared up that Baadur Jobava leader of Georgian national men team will miss the tournament due to healthy problems. Konstantine Shanava international master replaces him. Besides Shanava, Mikheil Mchedlishvili, Tornike Sanikidze, Merab Gagunashvili and Levan Pantsulaia will compete at this tournament.
In the first round Georgian men team plays against Yemen team. It goes without saying that Georgian players are considered as favorites in this round.
Mchedlishvili (ranking- 2659) plays against Al Zendan (2363), Gagunashvili (2578)- Faragi (2243), Sanikidze (2585)- Al Hadran (2263) and Pantsulaia (2575)- Abdula (2019).
As for Georgian national women’s team, their opponent team is Guatemala:
Bela Khotenashvili (2509)- Masariegos (2062)
Lela Javakhishvili (2458)- Sotomaior(1185)
Khurtsidze (244)- K. Menkos (2035)
Nino Batsiashvili (2432)- M. Menkos (1877)
It is worth mentioning that 5 Georgian chess players will represent another countries:
Ana Matnadze is leader of Spanish team, Nino Maisuradze is No.2 seed of French team, Rusudan Goletiani represents US. As for men, Davit Shengelia plays for Austria and Aleksandre Dgebuadze plays for Belgium.
Tengiz Chobanidze
