China wins men's world team chess championship title for 1st time (updated)
Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:
China won the FIDE men's world team chess championship for the first time in Tsaghksdzor, Armenia, after beating India 3-1 in the last round on Tuesday.
The Chinese team of Bu Xiangzhi, Ding Liren, Yu Yangyi, Wei Yi and Wang Chen, finished with 15 points from nine rounds in the round-robin tournament which featured the world's best 10 teams.
Ukraine took the silver with 12 points, and hosts Armenia had bronze with 11 points.
After Ukraine obatined only four ties early in the last round, China were already assured of the title regardless of their results against India.
"It's really a historical achievement for Chinese men's chess," said Ye Jiangchuan, the head coach of Chinese chess team.
China also captured its first men's Chess Olympiad cup last year. It finished the runner-ups at the FIDE world championship in 2005, 2011 and 2013.
The world team chess championship, played every two years, is an international team chess event, eligible for the participation of 10 countries whose chess federations dominate their continent. In chess, the world championship and the Chess Olympiads are the premier international tournaments. Endi