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Last update: Monday April 3, 2006 14:23
The England Teams’ selection has been confirmed for the World Chess Olympiad, 2006. The England Teams include a combination of experience and impressive ability, featuring many of the country’s top players. Selection is:
Board 1 Michael Adams – England’s strongest ever player and previous world title challenger (Libya 2004) and the nation’s number one since the late 1990’s. Mickey has been established in the world’s top twenty for many years. Adams has represented England in every Olympiad since 1990 (9 times).
Board 2 Nigel Short – Former world title challenger to Gary Kasparov in 1993 and a Grandmaster since 1984. Nigel Short received the MBE in 1999 in recognition of his contribution to the Royal game. Nigel is also an active chess journalist.
Board 3 Jon Speelman – Former World Championship candidate and three times British Champion, in a rich vein of form and fresh from his most impressive tournament performance in several years, in Gibraltar 2006. Jon made his debut for England in the European Team Championship of 1977. This is Jon’s 14th consecutive Olympiad since Malta in 1980. Jon is also a chess journalist.
Board 4 Danny Gormally – England’s newest Grandmaster achieving his title in Gibraltar in 2005, Danny is a welcome addition to the Olympiad team. Danny performed impressively on his England debut at the European Team Championships in Gothenburg.
Board 5 Stuart Conquest – Former World under 16 Champion, Stuart is an England regular and plays a brand of exciting crowd pleasing double-edged chess. Stuart is an accomplished linguist speaking French, German and Spanish fluently. Stuart also represented England in the Olympiads held in Erevan 1996 and Bled 2002.
Board 6 Nick Pert – One of our most promising young Grandmasters and World under-18 Champion in 1998. Nick performed excellently on his debut at the European team championships in Gothenburg scoring an unbeaten 5/8. This will be Nick’s first Olympiad appearance.
Team Captain is the richly experienced and respected Allan Beardsworth. Allan, 44, also captained the England team in Majorca in 2004 and is a considerable contributor to the game.
The teams are funded by a financial contribution form the English Chess Federation and the attendance of Michael Adams and Nigel Short is aided by the generous contribution of David Norwood, who is thanked for his personal generosity and support.
Board 1 Jovanka Houska – England’s latest International Master, the only English Woman to have qualified for the Women’s World Chess Championship 2006, a former European Girls Under 20 Champion, and a regular in the England Women’s Team, for which she was captain at the European Team Championships in 2005.
Board 2 Jessie Gilbert – The youngest member of the team and one of England’s most promising juniors, Women’s World Amateur Champion 1999 and bronze medallist in the European Under 14 Girls’ Championship, 2001. This will be the second time she will play for the team.
Board 3 Jana Bellin – Awarded the Women’s Grandmaster title in 1982 and eight times British Women’s Champion, Jana has played many times for the national team to which she now makes a welcome return.
Board 4 Sophie Tidman – A former England junior international in team and individual events, Sophie captained the Oxford Varsity team in 2005. She is making her debut for the England Women’s Team.
Team captain and coach is the highly respected Grandmaster, Mark Hebden, a member of the Men’s Team at the Olympiads in 1998 and 2004, and coach for the BCF at World and European junior and youth championships 2000-2005.
Official site: www.chessolympiad-torino2006.org
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