seeded Russia held off the United States in the 38th Chess Olympiad in round eight of open division play Friday, but the Armenian team crushed France and stayed in first place. In women's division, the US team dealt a severe blow to the medal hopes of the Russian team, also the top seed, beating it 3-1. The win gave the US team 6.5 match points to keep it in a second-place tie with several others. The US was led by Irina Krush, who beat women's world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk on board one. She sacrificed a pawn on move 16. Her compensation was dubious until Kosteniuk misplaced her rook. Kosteniuk managed to come up with some tactical complications but they could not save her in the end. The Americans also picked up a win from Anna Zatonskih on board two against Tatiana Kosintseva, who sacrificed a pawn only to fritter away her compensation before losing a second pawn and the game. The other two games in the match, Rusudan Goletiani against Tatiana's sister Nadezhda Kosintseva, and American Katerina Rohonyan against Ekaterina Korbut, were drawn. In open division play, Russia edged the United States 2.5-1.5. The Americans won on board one as Gata Kamsky downed Peter Svidler. But the other three boards went badly, although Alexander Onischuk salvaged a draw for the US on board three when Alexander Morozevich blundered in a winning endgame. Alexander Grischuk picked up a pawn, traded it in for an exchange and ground down Hikaru Nakamura on board two, and Dmitry Jakovenko steamrolled Varuzhan Akobian on board four. The Chess Olympiad, a biennial event that started Nov. 13, includes 146 teams in the open division - often referred to as the men's division, even though it includes a few women. The separate women's division includes 111 teams. Armenia leads the open division with 7.5 match points after beating France 3.5-0.5 in round eight. Israel has seven, and Russian and Ukraine are tied with 6.5. In other open division matches, England kept its medal hopes alive by beating Georgia 2.5-1.5 behind Nigel Short's victory over Zviad Izoria. England is tied with several other teams at six points. Thirty-seventh seed Vietnam scored an upset tie match against third seed China 2-2. India and Slovenia tied 2-2. These teams, along with the US, Hungary and several others, have 5.5 points and only dim hopes of getting a medal. Bosnia-Herzegovina edged Australia 2.5-1.5 behind Zeljko Bogut's win over Darryl Johansen. It was Johansen's first loss after winning his first five games. Ukraine annihilated New Zealand 4-0 in one of the many mismatches that the modified pairing system has produced in this event. On the women's side, China tied Ukraine 2-2 to stay in first place with seven points. Poland, Serbia, the United States and Ukraine are all tied for second with 6.5 points. Round nine takes place here on Saturday with play continuing on Sunday. Monday is an off-day, and the tournament concludes Tuesday.
