"We will do our best in the Olympiad"

The Azerbaijan men’s second team preparing for the Baku Chess Olympiad is continuing its preparations for the competition. Six chess players are involved in the first stage of preparations – Gadir Guseinov, Vasif Durarbayli, Namig Guliyev, Nijat Abbasov, Vugar Rasulov and Ulvi Bajarani. The names of five chess players who will represent the second national team in the Chess Olympiad will be determined after the training session has been completed.

The initial stage of preparations in Baku is conducted under the leadership of Israeli GM, European champion Emil Sutovsky.

In an interview to the press service of the Baku Chess Olympiad Operating Committee, team captain Emil Sutovsky said, “We have worked with these chess players in the past too. Therefore, there are no problems. Preparations have been organized at a high level. The players have tremendous potential to unlock. It is extremely interesting to work with them.

“At the initial stage of preparations, we are working on the opening repertoire. Opening is very important in chess. One of the key things in modern chess is to come out of the opening. We are looking at different openings. I have brought a lot of material on a computer with me. In addition to the openings, we have been look at different moves in possible variations. Sometimes we come up with interesting ideas during an exchange of views. I am quite pleased.

“The Baku Chess Olympiad is the main event of the chess world. The world’s best teams and players will compete in the Azerbaijani capital. We will do our best as the country’s second team. We are ranked among top 40 teams for the average ELO rating. Our goal is to do as best as we can. If our players show what they are capable of, we can hope for finishing in top 10.”

Azerbaijan as a host country will be represented by three men’s and three women’s team in the 42nd World Chess Olympiad.