Dresden chess olympiad, Round 10

I wouldn't consider Ecuador to be a strong team. Despite their GM and IM, they are ranked only a few rungs above the Malaysian team. On paper, they are supposed to be the better team and it looked good to at least draw the match. However, I feel that our team could have done better. Missed opportunities again? An additional half-a-point would have pushed Malaysia higher than their current standings in 101st position. Let me tell you, and tell them, that it's not good.

At the top tables, the lead has changed hands again and both the Ukraine and Armenia are leading the standings going into the final round of the Chess Olympiad. It's going down the wire and we should know the new winners on Wednesday morning. Will Armenia be successful in defending the title or will there be a new country? China was the only Asian country to feature among the top 10 tables in this round with Vietnam dropping out for the moment but I think they should be back at the top tables. In the meantime, India has faded from contention.

Ukraine 2½-1½ Israel
Germany One 1½-2½ USA
Serbia 1-3 Armenia
England 1½-2½ China
Slovenia ½-3½ Russia
Spain 3-1 Bulgaria
Netherlands 2½-1½ Poland
Slovakia 1-3 France
Georgia 2½-1½ Denmark
Hungary 3-1 Switzerland

Here are the remaining Asian teams in the competition:

Colombia ½-3½ Vietnam
Uzbekistan 2-2 Austria
Czech Republic 1-3 India
Iran 1-3 Ccroatia
Latvia 1½-2½ Kazakhstan
Turkey 3½-½ New Zealand
Indonesia 2-2 Venezuela
Estonia 3½-½ Mongolia
Qatar 1-3 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Brazil 1½-2½ AUstralia
Finland 4-0 UAE
El Salvador 1½-2½ Bangladesh
Kyrgyzstan 2-2 Thailand
Philippines 3½-½ Tunisia
Pakistan 1½-2½ Luxembourg
Tajikistan 4-0 Jordan
Afghanistan 0-4 Paraguay
Botswana 1-3 Japan
Singapore 3-1 Monaco
Libya ½-3½ Syria
Faroe Islands 3½-½ Lebanon
Ecuador 2-2 Malaysia
Iraq 3½-½ Nepal
Hongkong ½-3½ Palestine
Malta 2-2 Sri Lanka
South Korea 1½-2½ Panama
IPCA 3½-½ IBCA
Yemen 1-3 Jamaica
Chinese Taipei 2-2 Zambia
Macau ½-3½ Angola
Fiji 1½-2½ Jersey
Papua New Guinea ½-3½ Surinam

Our representatives in Dresden, Round 10: (left to right) Mas Hafizulhelmi, Lim Yee Weng, Mok Tze Meng and Jimmy Liew

At Table 48, Ecuador drew with the Malaysians:

GM Matamoros Franco Carlos S 2525 - IM Mas Hafizulhelmi 2439 1/2
IM Pazos Gambarrotti Plinio 2327 - FM Lim Yee-Weng 2396 0-1
Aucay Pelaez Mauro 2335 - FM Mok Tze-Meng 2308 1/2
Macias Murillo Bryan 2333 - IM Liew Chee-Meng-Jimmy 2306 1-0

Today is the final day of rest from the competition. For the final round in Dresden tomorrow night, Malaysia is elevated to Table 41 where our players will face Guatemala. Boys, this is your last chance for a hurrah! Go for it! Good luck in that final match.

UPDATE: Standings after the 10th round:
17 points: Armenia, Ukraine
16 points: Israel, China
15 points: Russia, Netherlands, Spain, USA
14 points: Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Hungary, Georgia, Romania, England, Belarus, France, Serbia
13 points: Germany One, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, India, Slovenia, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania
12 points: Cuba, Norway, Turkey, Greece, Sweden, Uzbekistan, Estonia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Finland, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Moldova, Montenegro, Austria, Switzerland, Scotland, Germany Two, Egypt, Australia
11 points: Iran, Germany Three, Indonesia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Iceland, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Italy, Paraguay, Singapore, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Japan, Luxembourg
10 points: Portugal, Brazil, Qatar, Macedonia, Ireland, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Syria, Faroe Islands, UAE, IPCA, Iraq, Mongolia, Bolivia, New Zealand, Albania, Thailand
9 points: Pakistan, Belgium, Guatemala, Ecuador, Palestine, Monaco, Algeria, Mexico, Botswana, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Jordan, El Salvador, Wales, Tunisia, Panama, ICSC, Jamaica, Uruguay, Malaysia, Nicaragua
8 points: Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic, IBCA, Puerto Rico, Libya, Mozambique, Lebanon, Angola, Barbados, San Marino, Malta, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Namibia
7 points: Andorra, Zambia, Yemen, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, South Korea, Honduras, Jersey, Mauritius, Hongkong, Kenya, Surinam, Chinese Taipei, Guernsey, Bermuda
6 points: Malawi, Uganda, Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Liechtenstein, Macau, British Virgin Islands
5 points: Gabon, Papua New Guinea, Ghana, Fiji
4 points: Seychelles, US Virgin Islands
3 points: Rwanda, Madagascar