2018 Chess Olympiad - PNG Team

The 2018 Chess Olympiad is less than 2 months away, and most federations have organised their teams. This years Papua New Guinea team has a few changes, including a return to the board for me. Returning from the 2016 team are FM Stuart Fancy, FM Rupert Jones and CM Helmut Marko. Joining them are myself, and newcomer Tom McCoy. Initially playing his chess in Canberra, work in PNG has allowed Tom to join the team.
This year also sees a new team captain with US/Iranian GM Elshan Moradiabadi taking on the sometimes difficult task. Moradiabadi has some familiarity with the team, and Iran played PNG in the first round of the 2010 Olympiad, crushing me on board 2!
The first round of the Olympiad is on the 24th September, with the tournament running through to the 5th October. Once again it will be an 11 round event, with a single rest day.


McCoy,Tom (1664) - Chibnall,Alana (876) [C34]
Belconnen op Belconnen (1), 08.07.2005

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 c6 4. d4 d5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 Bg4 7. O-O Bxc3 8. bxc3 dxe4 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bxf4 Re8 12. Qd3 Nxe4 13. Rxe4 Rxe4 14. Qxe4 Nd7 15. Rb1 Nf6 16. Qd3 b6 17. Ne5 Rc8 18. Rf1 g6 19. Bg5 Bf5 20. Rxf5 gxf5 21. Qxf5 Kg7 22. Ng4 Qe8 23. Qxf6+ Kg8 24. Nh6+ Kf8 25. Qh8# 1-0