Home Chess Cartoons A short recap of the 2016 Baku Olympiad

A short recap of the 2016 Baku Olympiad

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I was very fortunate to spend some time at the 2016 Baku Olympiad as part of the Press.image-357-minThis gave me full access to the fantastic and spacious Press Centre where I got chance to interact with many key personalities who work behind the scenes to bring us chess reports and photographs.

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The 2016 Baku Olympiad Press Centre.

There were a number of colourful and interesting characters from all over the world!

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Ian Wilkinson QC (right) and Chairman of Jamaica Chess Federation standing with Robert Wheeler an Arbiter from Jamaica.

My new friends now include Andreas Kontokanis from Greece whose fluency in Russian proved very useful when dealing with the obstinate security personnel at the Olympiad Hall.

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Russian speaking Greek photographer Andreas Kontokanis

The Press Centre was busy in the late afternoons and evenings when various players and team managers would be interviewed.

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Charming Anastasiya Karlovich who is the FIDE Press Officer who was a busy bee at the Olympiad!

I was also fortunate to get chance to meet the legendary GM Eugene Torre from Philippines who was playing in his 23rd Olympiad!

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A minnow stands between the giants of world chess! Former Women’s World Champion GM Susan Polgar and GM Eugenio Torre of Philippines.

I was also very happy to meet up with David Llada who has very generously allowed this website to carry many of his photos over the past 2 years or so.

David Llada in action at the 2016 Baku Olympiad. Photo credit Andreas Kontokanis.
David Llada in action at the 2016 Baku Olympiad. Photo credit Andreas Kontokanis.
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“Twende kazi” in Kiswahili means “let us go to work” – World famous photographer David Llada gets ready to go to the playing hall.

I guess at times a cartoon illustrates a point in a better way!

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Links

2016 Baku Olympiad Day 1.

2016 Baku Olympiad Day 2.