First place in the 2012 Chess Olympiad was probably decided by three matches, although none of them involved the actual winner. Just as Russia were looking like they would run away with the tournament, they lost in round 9 to the USA. Then the Americans lost their round 10 match to the Chinese team, who suddenly assumed favoritism. Then in the final round China lost 3-1 to The Ukraine, to fall out of the medals and allow the Armenian team to take gold.
The key game from the Ukraine China match was the board 1 clash between Ivanchuk and Hao. And befitting the status of the game (Board 1 of Match 1) Ivanchuk played a brilliancy, sacrificing a rook and a piece to mate the Black king in the middle of the board.
Ivanchuk,Vassily (2769) - Wang,Hao (2726)
Olympiad 0:03.57-0:04.57 (11), 09.09.2012
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