The 23rd Chess Olympiad (Spanish: La 23a Olimpíada de ajedrez), organized by FIDE and comprising an open[1] and a women's tournament, as well as several other events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between October 25 and November 12, 1978, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
After the boycott two years earlier, the Eastern Bloc countries were back, including the Soviet team who, as usual, were huge favourites——but in the end they had to settle for the silver medal. Hungary, led by Lajos Portisch, caused quite an upset by taking the gold medals by a full point. The United States took the bronze.
This tournament also witnessed the debut of China, which placed 20th with six untitled players, and later became a chess power and won the Chess Olympiad in 2014 and 2018.
Open event
Sixty-five nations played a 14-round Swiss system tournament. To make for an even number of teams, the Argentine hosts also fielded a "B" team. In the event of a draw, the tie-break was decided first by using the Buchholz system, then by match points.
Open event # Country Players Average
ratingPoints Buchholz 1 Hungary Portisch, Ribli, Sax, Adorján, Csom, Vadász 2570 37 2 Soviet Union Spassky, Petrosian, Polugaevsky, Gulko, Romanishin, Vaganian 2620 36 3 United States Kavalek, Browne, Lein, Byrne, Tarjan, Lombardy 2553 35 4 West Germany Hübner, Unzicker, Pfleger, Darga, Hecht, Borik 2540 33 5 Israel Dzindzichashvili, Liberzon, Kagan, Bleiman, Birnboim, Gruenfeld 2509 32½ 442.5 6 Romania Gheorghiu, Ciocâltea, Ghițescu, Suba, Ghindǎ, Troianescu 2468 32½ 422.5 7 Denmark Hamann, Jakobsen, Kristiansen, Fedder, Høi, Blom 2416 32 440.5 8 Poland Schmidt, Kuligowski, Sznapik, Adamski, Pytel, Filipowicz 2449 32 437.0 9 Spain Díez del Corral, Pomar, Calvo, Bellón López, Sanz Alonso, Rivas Pastor 2429 32 430.5 10 Switzerland Korchnoi, Hug, Lombard, Wirthensohn, Huss, Bhend 2484 32 426.0 11 Canada Hébert, Biyiasas, Day, Piasetski, Nickoloff, Coudari 2388 32 422.5 12 England Miles, Stean, Keene, Hartston, Mestel, Nunn 2508 31½ 452.5 13 Bulgaria Radulov, Ermenkov, Tringov, Padevsky, Spasov, Inkiov 2486 31½ 437.0 14 Netherlands Timman, Sosonko, Donner, Ree, Ligterink, Langeweg 2538 31½ 432.5 15 Yugoslavia Gligorić, Ljubojević, Matanović, Ivkov, Velimirović, Parma 2558 31 438.0 16 Sweden Andersson, Ornstein, Schneider, Kaiszauri, Schüssler, Wedberg 2453 31 437.5 17 Argentina Emma, Bronstein, Hase, Cámpora, Szmetan, Grinberg 2409 31 418.0 18 Cuba García González, Hernández, Rodríguez Céspedes, Vilela de Acuña, García Martínez, Lebredo Zarragoitia 2486 30½ 437.0 19 Austria Robatsch, Hölzl, Stoppel, Wittmann, Janetschek, Dür 2389 30½ 417.0 20 China Qi Jingxuan, Chen De, Liu Wenzhe, Liang Jinrong, Chang Tung Lo, Zhang Weida 2273 30½ 413.5 21 Mexico Sisniega, Campos López, Villarreal, Aldrete, Escondrillas, Navarro 2361 30½ 393.5 22 Finland Westerinen, Rantanen, Hurme, Saren, Raaste, Kivipelto 2389 30 421.0 23 Colombia García, Gutierrez, Rodríguez, Zapata, de Greiff, Agudelo 2359 30 400.5 24 Philippines Torre E., Rodríguez, Mascariñas, Bordonada, Torre V., de Guzman 2405 29½ 407.0 25 New Zealand Sarapu, Chandler, Small, Stuart, Anderson, Weir 2270 29½ 396.0 26 Indonesia Suradiradja, Ardiansyah, Bachtiar, Wotulo, Sampouw, Kileng 2346 29½ 394.0 27 Brazil Trois, van Riemsdijk, Segal, Braga, Másculo, Carvalho 2355 29½ 393.5 28 Iceland Ólafsson F., Sigurjónsson, Ólafsson H., Pétursson, Árnason, Ásmundsson 2480 29 423.0 29 Chile Donoso Velasco, Frias Pablaza, Morovic, Silva Sánchez, Scholz Solis, Cifuentes Parada 2395 29 417.0 30 Australia Jamieson, Fuller, Shaw, Rogers, Woodhams, Viner 2399 29 408.0 31 Norway Wibe, Helmers, Øgaard, Hoen, Johannessen, Heiberg 2409 29 398.0 - Argentina "B" Giardelli, Seidler, Barbero, Braga, Bernat, Monier 2329 28½ 413.0 32 Paraguay Franco Ocampos, Gamarra Cáceres, Riego Prieto, Bogda, Ferreira, Ingolotti 2278 28½ 411.5 33 Scotland Pritchett, Levy, Jamieson, Upton, Giulian, Reid 2309 28 404.5 34 Venezuela Ostos, Fernández, Diaz, Gamboa, Dounia, González 2253 28 401.5 35 Syria Arafeh, Hakki, Catalan, Khatib, Kassen M., Khattab 2200 28 373.0 36 France Haïk, Giffard, Preissmann, Roos, Sellos, Letzelter 2358 27½ 425.0 37 Uruguay Estrada Degrandi, Dienavorian Lacherian, Silva Nazzari, Bademian Orchanian, Lamas Baliero, Pazdur González 2270 27½ 381.5 38 Dominican Republic Gonzáles, Delgado, Álvarez, Mateo, Pérez Nivar, Liao Yuan Eu 2229 27½ 380.5 39 Sri Lanka Weeramantry, Aturupane D. H. C., Goonetilleke, Parakrama 2200 27½ 373.5 40 Hong Kong Jhunjhnuwala K., Valdellon, Kan Wai Shui, Jhunjhnuwala R., Schepel, Jhunjhnuwala N. 2235 27½ 367.0 41 Wales Cooper, Williams, Hutchings, Jones, Trevelyan, Tyrrell 2324 27 403.5 42 Peru Rodríguez Vargas, González Bernal, Vásquez Horna, Vásquez, Pelaez Contti, Robbiano Taboada 2271 27 399.5 43 Guyana Broomes M., Broomes G., Wharton, Warsali, Brooms 2200 27 369.0 44 Japan Takemoto, Matsumoto, Sakurai, Ozaki, Oda, Tanuma 2200 27 359.0 45 Luxembourg Stull, Schammo, Milbers, Kirsch, Welz, Philippe 2219 27 353.0 46 Faroe Islands Jacobsen, Apol, Petersen, Ziska, Midjord, Durhuus 2200 27 346.0 47 Belgium Schumacher, Wostyn, Mollekens, Van Herck, Larsen, De Hert 2223 26½ 374.5 48 Guatemala De León, Batres, Canda, Grajeda, Garrido, Cruz Lorenzana 2200 26½ 358.0 49 Morocco Chorfi, Al-Hamido, Arbouche, El-Amri, Khatib S., Bakali 2200 26½ 356.0 50 Tunisia Bouaziz, Belkadi, Tabbane, Kchouk, Hmadi, Zargouni 2279 26 390.0 51 Ecuador Verduga, Pazos, Salvador, Freile, Frank, Márquez 2266 26 381.5 52 Bolivia Chávez Chávez, Zarco Castillo, Mendivil, Alborta, Orestes, Palacios Alvarez 2213 26 368.0 53 Trinidad and Tobago Cecil Lee, Payne, Courtney Lee, Duchesne, Lum Tong, Chin Fong 2200 26 356.5 54 Jordan Arafat, Shoumali, Al-Mallah, Bakr, Haddad, Saqqa 2200 26 327.5 55 Jamaica Wong S., Grant, Wong A., Powell 2200 25½ 56 Puerto Rico Moraza Choisme, Freyre, Torres, Ochoa, Martínez Buitrago, Ferrao 2214 25 373.0 57 Malaysia Tan Bian Huat, Woo Beng Keong, Hon Kah Seng, Liew Chee Meng, Foo Lum Choon, How 2200 25 365.5 58 Libya Shabsh Abdulatif, El-Ageli, Tawengi, Isgeta, Talha, Aburziza M. 2200 23½ 321.0 59 Mauritania Bouasria, Radhy Sol, El-Mokhtar, Louly, Maouloud 2200 23½ 319.5 60 Andorra Clua Ballague, Pantebre Martínez, Gómez Abad, Pantebre Martínez, Fité Barris, Vañó 2200 22½ 61 United States Virgin Islands Van Tilbury, Hoyt, Grumer, Chiu Yum San, Hanno, John Turner 2200 22 62 Bermuda Yerbury, Radford, Harris, Chudleigh, Dill, Lattyak 2200 20½ 63 Zaire De Vries, Ciezkowski, Merali, Biringanine 2200 16 64 United Arab Emirates Hassan, Saleh, Abdulghafour, Abdul Rahman, Al-Kaitoob, Zainal 2200 12½ 328.5 65 British Virgin Islands Hook, Georges, Pickering, Campbell, Downing 2213 12½ 327.5
Team standing
The following ratings were used to determine the placement (#).
- BP (sum of board points)
- TP (sum of team points)
# Team Code BP TP + = - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 Hungary HUN 37 23 10 3 1 SCO
3½POL
3NED
3ESP
2½USA
2URS
1½DEN
2ENG
3BUL
2½GER
2ISL
3SWE
3½ISR
2½YUG
32 Soviet Union URS 36 23 10 3 1 WLS
3ARG2
3½ROM
3CUB
3ENG
2HUN
2½BUL
2½USA
3GER
1½ISR
2SWE
2POL
2½CAN
3NED
2½3 United States USA 35 23 10 3 1 PAR
3AUT
2½CAN
3AUS
3HUN
2ENG
2½YUG
2½URS
1DEN
4CUB
2½GER
2½ISR
2½POL
2SUI
24 West Germany GER 33 17 6 5 3 NZL
4CHI
2½CUB
1FIN
3DEN
1½SWE
2WLS
4ARG
3URS
2½HUN
2USA
1½YUG
2ENG
2ISR
25 Israel ISR 32½ 18 7 4 3 ECU
4BRA
2½ESP
1CAN
2½PHI
2FRA
2½ROM
2FIN
3POL
2½URS
2CUB
3½USA
1½HUN
1½GER
26 Romania ROM 32½ 16 6 4 4 PUR
4CAN
1½URS
1INA
1½CHN
2½TUN
4ISR
2BUL
2FRA
2ARG2
3YUG
1½ISL
3ESP
2ENG
2½7 Denmark DEN 32 20 8 4 2 JPN
3MEX
2½COL
3YUG
2GER
2½CAN
3½HUN
2CUB
2USA
0SUI
2½ENG
1CHI
3½BUL
2AUT
2½8 Poland POL 32 17 7 3 4 MAS
3½HUN
1HKG
2½BRA
4SWE
2½PHI
2ENG
2½YUG
1½ISR
1½FRA
3ESP
2½URS
1½USA
2CAN
29 Spain ESP 32 15 6 3 5 GUA
4VEN
2½ISR
3HUN
1½BUL
1½FIN
2FRA
1½AUS
3½SUI
1½AUT
3POL
1½CUB
2ROM
2SWE
2½10 Switzerland SUI 32 19 8 3 3 BEL
3FRA
1½MEX
2½CHN
2½CHI
3½YUG
1BRA
2½SWE
2ESP
2½DEN
1½PHI
3ENG
2AUT
2½USA
211 Canada CAN 32 16 7 2 5 LBA
4ROM
2½USA
1ISR
1½SCO
3½DEN
½DOM
3½CHI
2ENG
1PER
3PAR
2½FRA
4URS
1POL
212 England ENG 31½ 15 6 3 5 DOM
4COL
3½ARG
2½BUL
2½URS
2USA
1½POL
1½HUN
1CAN
3SWE
1½DEN
3SUI
2GER
2ROM
1½13 Bulgaria BUL 31½ 16 7 2 5 LUX
4INA
3FRA
2½ENG
1½ESP
2½CUB
3URS
1½ROM
2HUN
1½ISL
1ARG
3NED
1½DEN
2FIN
2½14 Netherlands NED 31½ 17 7 3 4 URU
4FIN
3HUN
1ARG
2½CUB
1COL
2SWE
1½CHN
2PAR
2½BRA
3ARG2
3BUL
2½YUG
2URS
1½15 Yugoslavia YUG 31 18 7 4 3 TUN
3½AUS
2½NOR
2½DEN
2FRA
2SUI
3USA
1½POL
2½CUB
1½ARG
2½ROM
2½GER
2NED
2HUN
116 Sweden SWE 31 17 7 3 4 HKG
3NOR
1½BEL
3½CHI
2½POL
1½GER
2NED
2½SUI
2CHN
3½ENG
2½URS
2HUN
½FIN
2½ESP
1½17 Argentina ARG 31 16 8 0 6 BOL
3CHN
3½ENG
1½NED
1½COL
2½INA
3ISL
2½GER
1PER
3YUG
1½BUL
1AUT
1NOR
2½VEN
3½18 Cuba CUB 30½ 17 7 3 4 PER
2½MAR
4GER
3URS
1NED
3BUL
1PHI
3DEN
2YUG
2½USA
1½ISR
½ESP
2ISL
2½CHN
219 Austria AUT 30½ 15 7 1 6 GUY
2½USA
1½SCO
2½NZL
1½PAR
2CHN
½HKG
3MAS
3½AUS
4ESP
1FIN
2½ARG
3SUI
1½DEN
1½20 China CHN 30½ 15 6 3 5 ISL
3ARG
½DOM
3½SUI
1½ROM
1½AUT
3½FIN
2NED
2SWE
½VEN
1½TUN
2½SYR
2½ECU
4CUB
221 Mexico MEX 30½ 16 7 2 5 TRI
3DEN
1½SUI
1½URU
3VEN
1½PAR
1PUR
3PER
1DOM
2½NOR
2BOL
3ECU
3COL
2ISL
2½22 Finland FIN 30 14 6 2 6 JAM
4NED
1ARG2
2½GER
1PER
3ESP
2CHN
2ISR
1NZL
3COL
3AUT
1½VEN
3SWE
1½BUL
1½23 Colombia COL 30 15 5 5 4 UAE
4ENG
½DEN
1HKG
4ARG
1½NED
2SCO
2½NOR
3ISL
2FIN
1CHI
2PHI
2½MEX
2BRA
224 Philippines PHI 29½ 16 6 4 4 AND
2PER
2½WLS
3½ISL
2½ISR
2POL
2CUB
1INA
2½ARG2
1½CHI
2½SUI
1COL
1½SCO
3NZL
225 New Zealand NZL 29½ 15 7 1 6 GER
0SRI
3LUX
3½AUT
2½INA
1½BRA
1½MAS
3½ARG2
2FIN
1TUN
2½ECU
1JPN
3½PER
3PHI
226 Indonesia INA 29½ 14 6 2 6 ZAI
4BUL
1CHI
1½ROM
2½NZL
2½ARG
1VEN
2½PHI
1½NOR
1ECU
2SCO
1½GUA
4AUS
2PAR
2½27 Brazil BRA 29½ 14 6 2 6 IVB
4ISR
1½VEN
2½POL
0TUN
3NZL
2½SUI
1½WLS
2½CHI
1½NED
1AUS
2BOL
4PAR
1½COL
228 Iceland ISL 29 13 6 1 7 CHN
1JPN
4PAR
3PHI
1½AUS
2½VEN
3ARG
1½FRA
2½COL
2BUL
3HUN
1ROM
1CUB
1½MEX
1½29 Chile CHI 29 14 5 4 5 SRI
4GER
1½INA
2½SWE
1½SUI
½SCO
2JAM
4CAN
2BRA
2½PHI
1½COL
2DEN
½ARG2
2½AUS
230 Australia AUS 29 15 6 3 5 ISV
3½YUG
1½FAI
3½USA
1ISL
1½NOR
2½PAR
2½ESP
½AUT
0SRI
4BRA
2ARG2
2½INA
2CHI
231 Norway NOR 29 14 6 2 6 BER
3½SWE
2½YUG
1½FRA
1ECU
3AUS
1½ARG2
2COL
1INA
3MEX
2VEN
1½PAR
2½ARG
1½WLS
2½- Argentina "B" ARG2 28½ 12 5 2 7 JOR
4URS
½FIN
1½PAR
2WLS
1½SYR
4NOR
2NZL
3PHI
2½ROM
1NED
1AUS
1½CHI
1½FRA
2½32 Paraguay PAR 28½ 12 5 2 7 USA
1AND
4ISL
1ARG2
2AUT
2MEX
3AUS
1½VEN
3NED
1½WLS
2½CAN
1½NOR
1½BRA
2½INA
1½33 Scotland SCO 28 14 6 2 6 HUN
½MAS
3½AUT
1½GUY
4CAN
½CHI
2COL
1½DOM
2ECU
1½URU
2½INA
2½WLS
2½PHI
1PER
2½34 Venezuela VEN 28 13 6 1 7 MAU
4ESP
1½BRA
1½ECU
2MEX
2½ISL
1INA
1½PAR
1PUR
3½CHN
2½NOR
2½FIN
1FRA
3ARG
½35 Syria SYR 28 13 6 1 7 FRA
0URU
1½BOL
2½BER
3½DOM
1½ARG2
0LUX
3SRI
2TUN
1½MAR
3PUR
3½CHN
1½WLS
1½TRI
336 France FRA 27½ 12 5 2 7 SYR
4SUI
2½BUL
1½NOR
3YUG
2ISR
1½ESP
2½ISL
1½ROM
2POL
1PER
3½CAN
0VEN
1ARG2
1½37 Uruguay URU 27½ 15 5 5 4 NED
0SYR
2½MAU
4MEX
1BOL
2MAS
1SRI
2GUY
2½FAI
2SCO
1½GUA
2½DOM
2½TUN
2HKG
238 Dominican Republic DOM 27½ 14 5 4 5 ENG
0UAE
3½CHN
½MAR
3SYR
2½BOL
3½CAN
½SCO
2MEX
1½TRI
2WAL
22URU
1½GUY
3SRI
239 Sri Lanka SRI 27½ 13 3 7 4 CHI
0NZL
1MAS
2GUA
1½AND
3½MAU
2URU
2SYR
2JAM
4AUS
0FAI
3½TUN
2LUX
2DOM
240 Hong Kong HKG 27½ 12 5 2 7 SWE
1BER
4POL
1½COL
0TRI
3JAM
1AUT
1JPN
3½WLS
1BOL
0UAE
4MAS
3½BEL
2URU
241 Wales WLS 27 13 6 1 7 URS
1TRI
3PHI
½BEL
3½ARG2
2½ECU
3GER
0BRA
1½HKG
3PAR
1½DOM
2SCO
1½SYR
2½NOR
1½42 Peru PER 27 11 5 1 8 CUB
1½PHI
1½TUN
2FAI
3½FIN
1PUR
2½GUY
3½MEX
3ARG
1CAN
1FRA
½TRI
3½NZL
1SCO
1½43 Guyana GUY 27 12 6 0 8 AUT
1½FAI
½AND
4SCO
0LUX
1½MAR
4PER
½URU
1½BEL
2½GUA
1JOR
2½BER
4DOM
1TUN
2½44 Japan JPN 27 16 7 2 5 DEN
1ISL
0ISV
2½TRI
2MAU
1JOR
2½GUA
2½HKG
½ZAI
4LBA
3LUX
2NZL
½JAM
2½PUR
345 Luxembourg LUX 27 15 6 3 5 BUL
0ZAI
3NZL
½JAM
2GUY
2½FAI
1SYR
1MAR
2½AND
3JOR
2½JPN
2BEL
1½SRI
2IVB
3½46 Faroe Islands FAI 27 12 5 2 7 MAR
2GUY
3½AUS
½PER
½MAS
1LUX
3BEL
2½ECU
1½URU
2PUR
1½SRI
½IVB
4LBA
1½ZAI
347 Belgium BEL 26½ 12 4 4 6 SUI
1BOL
3SWE
½WLS
½MAR
1½BER
3½FAI
1½TRI
2GUY
1½MAS
2JAM
3LUX
2½HKG
2GUA
248 Guatemala GUA 26½ 14 6 2 6 ESP
0MAU
1LBA
2½SRI
2½PUR
1½TRI
2½JPN
1½JAM
2MAS
2½GUY
3URU
1½INA
0UAE
4BEL
249 Morocco MAR 26½ 14 6 2 6 FAI
2CUB
0JAM
2½DOM
1BEL
2½GUY
0LBA
2½LUX
1½BER
3½SYR
1ZAI
4PUR
2½BOL
1½ECU
250 Tunisia TUN 26 12 4 4 6 YUG
½ISV
3PER
2JOR
4BRA
1ROM
0ECU
2BOL
2½SYR
2½NZL
1½CHN
1½SRI
2URU
2GUY
1½51 Ecuador SCU 26 14 5 4 5 ISR
0IVB
3PUR
4VEN
2NOR
1WLS
1TUN
2FAI
2½SCO
2½INA
2NZL
3MEX
1CHN
0MAR
252 Bolivia BOL 26 12 5 2 7 ARG
1BEL
1SYR
1½UAE
4URU
2DOM
½MAU
2½TUN
1½TRI
2½HKG
4MEX
1BRA
0MAR
2½JAM
253 Trinidad and Tobago TRI 26 10 3 4 7 MEX
1WLS
1JOR
2JPN
2HKG
1GUA
1½ISV
3½BEL
2BOL
1½DOM
2AND
3½PER
½IVB
3½SYR
154 Jordan BOL 26 14 5 4 5 ARG2
0JAM
2TRI
2TUN
0BER
2½JPN
1½IVB
2½AND
2MAU
3½LUX
1½GUY
1½LBA
2½ZAI
2ISV
2½55 Jamaica JAM 25½ 12 4 4 6 FIN
0JOR
2MAR
1½LUX
2ZAI
3½HKG
3CHI
0GUA
2SRI
0IVB
3½BEL
1UAE
3½JPN
1½BOL
256 Puerto Rico PUR 25 12 6 0 8 ROM
0LBA
3ECU
0ISV
4GUA
2½PER
1½MEX
1MAU
4VEN
½FAI
2½SYR
½MAR
1½MAS
3JPN
157 Malaysia MAS 25 12 5 2 7 POL
½SCO
½SRI
2LBA
3½FAI
3URU
3NZL
½AUT
½GUA
1½BEL
2ISV
3HKG
½PUR
1UAE
3½58 Libya LBA 23½ 10 4 2 8 CAN
0PUR
1GUA
1½MAS
½ISV
2ZAI
2MAR
1½IVB
2½UAE
3½JPN
1BER
1½JOR
1½FAI
2½AND
2½59 Mauritania MAU 23½ 13 5 3 6 VEN
0GUA
3URU
0AND
2½JPN
3SRI
2BOL
1½PUR
0JOR
½UAE
2IVB
3ZAI
3ISV
1BER
260 Andorra AND 22½ 10 3 4 7 PHI
2PAR
0GUY
0MAU
1½SRI
½IVB
3UAE
3½JOR
2LUX
1ZAI
3TRI
½ISV
2BER
2LBA
1½61 United States Virgin Islands ISV 22 9 3 3 8 AUS
½TUN
1JPN
1½PUR
0LBA
2UAE
3TRI
½ZAI
2½IVB
2BER
1½MAS
1AND
2MAU
3JOR
1½62 Bermuda BER 20½ 11 4 3 7 NOR
½HKG
0IVB
3½SYR
½JOR
1½BEL
½ZAI
2UAE
2½MAR
½ISV
2½LBA
2½GUY
0AND
2MAU
263 Zaire ZAI 16 5 1 3 10 INA
0LUX
1UAE
1IVB
3JAM
½LBA
2BER
2ISV
1½JPN
0AND
1MAR
0MAU
1JOR
2FAI
164 United Arab Emirates UAE 12½ 5 2 1 11 COL
0DOM
½ZAI
3BOL
0IVB
2½ISV
1AND
½BER
1½LBA
½MAU
2HKG
0JAM
½GUA
0MAS
½65 British Virgin Islands IVB 12½ 1 0 1 13 BRA
0ECU
1BER
½ZAI
1UAE
1½AND
1JOR
1½LBA
1½ISV
2JAM
½MAU
1FAI
0TRI
½LUX
½
Individual medals
- Board 1: Viktor Korchnoi 9/11 = 81.8%
- Board 2: Adam Kuligowski 10/13 = 76.9%
- Board 3: Georgi Tringov 8½/11 = 77.3%
- Board 4: Glenn Bordonada 7/9 = 77.8%
- 1st reserve: James Tarjan 9½/11 = 86.4%
- 2nd reserve: John Turner 6½/7 = 92.9%
Women's event
Thirty-two nations took part in the women's Olympiad. From four preliminary groups the teams were split into four finals. In the event of a draw, the tie-break was decided first by match points, then by using the Sonneborn-Berger system.
The Soviet team was back, and led by newly crowned world champion Chiburdanidze they secured the gold medals in a superior display, as well as all four individual board prizes. On the reserve board, Akhmilovskaya won all of her ten games, the only perfect score in Olympiad history. Hungary and West Germany took silver and bronze, respectively.
Preliminaries
- Group 1:
Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
«A» | Soviet Union | - | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 20½ | |
«A» | England | 0 | - | 1½ | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 | |
«B» | Netherlands | ½ | 1½ | - | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2½ | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 | |
«B» | France | 0 | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | 1½ | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | |
«C» | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2½ | - | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7½ | |
«C» | Finland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1½ | 3 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7½ | |
«D» | Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | 2½ | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7½ | |
«D» | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | - | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
- Group 2:
Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
«A» | Hungary | - | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 19 | |
«A» | West Germany | 1½ | - | 3 | 1½ | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 2½ | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | |
«B» | United States | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 13½ | |
«B» | Argentina | ½ | 1½ | 1 | - | 1 | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 | |
«C» | Denmark | 0 | 1 | ½ | 2 | - | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 4 | 3 | 0 | 11 | |
«C» | Scotland | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | - | 2½ | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6 | |
«D» | Iceland | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4½ | |
«D» | Monaco | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | - | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
- Group 3:
Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
«A» | Yugoslavia | - | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 15½ | |
«A» | Poland | 1½ | - | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 1½ | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 14½ | |
«B» | India | 1½ | 1 | - | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 13 | |
«B» | Sweden | 1 | 1 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12½ | |
«C» | Canada | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1½ | - | 2½ | 1 | 2½ | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 | |
«C» | Brazil | ½ | 1½ | 2 | ½ | ½ | - | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9½ | |
«D» | Wales | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7½ | |
«D» | Bolivia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1½ | - | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1½ |
- Group 4:
Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
«A» | Spain | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 16½ | |
«A» | Bulgaria | 1 | - | 1½ | 3 | 3 | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16½ | |
«B» | Romania | 2 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 15½ | |
«B» | Australia | 1 | 0 | 1½ | - | 3 | 1½ | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
«C» | Colombia | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | - | 2 | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 8 | |
«C» | Japan | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1½ | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6½ | |
«D» | Puerto Rico | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 2 | - | 1½ | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4½ | |
«D» | Uruguay | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 2 | 1½ | - | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4½ |
Finals
Final A # Country Players Average
ratingPoints MP S-B 1 Soviet Union Chiburdanidze, Gaprindashvili, Alexandria, Akhmilovskaya 2370 16 2 Hungary Verőci-Petronić, Ivánka, Makai, Kas 2260 11 8 43.00 3 West Germany Laakmann, Fischdick, Hund, Weichert 2143 11 8 37.50 4 Yugoslavia Marković, Maček, Pihajlić, Prokopović 2197 11 7 5 Poland Ereńska-Radzewska, Szmacińska, Jurczyńska, Wiese 2147 10½ 6 Spain García Vicente, Ferrer Lucas, García Padrón, Cuevas Rodríguez 2043 8½ 6 7 Bulgaria Lemachko, Krumova, Shikova, Asenova 2175 8½ 4 8 England Miles, Jackson, Caldwell, Pritchard 2130 7½
Final B # Country Players Average
ratingPoints MP 9 Sweden Borisova, Dahlin, Bengtsson, Cramling 2072 15 13 10 Romania Polihroniade, Baumstark, Mureșan, Nuțu 2183 15 11 11 Netherlands van der Mije, Vreeken, van Parreren, Belle 2140 10 12 Argentina Soppe, Arias, Justo, Cazón 1953 9½ 7 13 France Merlini, Tagnon, Ruck-Petit, Warkentin 1935 9½ 4 14 United States Savereide, Haring, Herstein, Teasley 2110 9 15 India Khadilkar R., Khadilkar J., Khadilkar V. 1800 8½ 16 Australia Pope, Kellner, McGrath, Depasquale 1975 7½
Final C # Country Players Average
ratingPoints MP S-B 17 Denmark Høiberg, Haahr, Larsen 1967 13 9 42.25 18 Canada Shterenberg, Day, Baltgailis 1907 13 9 41.25 19 Colombia Guggenberger, Patiño, Gómez, Zapata 1880 12 20 Brazil Cardoso, Simonsen, Assunção, Snitkowsky 1807 11½ 9 21 Finland Vuorenpää-Landry, Palasto, Pihlajamäki, Ristoja 1893 11½ 8 22 Scotland Houstoun, Hindle, Elder, McGhee 1813 1 23 Japan Watai, Takahashi, Nakagawa, Shibuta 1802 6½ 24 Mexico Maurá Denis, Camps de Ocampo, Escondrillas, Salazar 1800 5½
Final D # Country Players Average
ratingPoints MP S-B 25 Wales Garwell, Evans, Brunker, Watkins 1880 17½ 26 Iceland Torsteinsdóttir, Tráinsdóttir, Norðdahl, Samúelsdóttir 1800 13½ 27 Venezuela García La Rosa, Casique, Arteaga, Niño del Táchira 1800 12 28 Bolivia Arias M., Zubieta S., Zubieta A. M., Arias D. 1800 10½ 7 34.25 29 Uruguay De los Santos, Villar de Armas, Ferrari Frei, Fernández Lares 1800 10½ 7 26.00 30 New Zealand Foster, Stretch, Barrowman, Davies 1800 10½ 7 25.25 31 Monaco Fässler, Santoy, Haumeder, Fleureau 1800 5½ 32 Puerto Rico Castellón de Santana, Rodríguez Ramírez, Paniagua Torres, Landrau Laureano 1800 4
Final «A»
No. | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Soviet Union | - | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2½ | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 16 | |
2 | Hungary | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | |
3 | West Germany | 1 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | |
4 | Yugoslavia | 1 | 1 | 1½ | - | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | |
5 | Poland | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 3 | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10½ | |
6 | Spain | 1 | 2 | 1½ | ½ | 0 | - | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8½ | |
7 | Bulgaria | ½ | 1½ | 1½ | 1 | 1 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8½ | |
8 | England | 1 | 1½ | 1 | 2 | ½ | 0 | 1½ | - | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7½ |
Final «B»
No. | Country | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | + | − | = | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | Sweden | - | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 15 | |
10 | Romania | 1½ | - | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2½ | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | |
11 | Netherlands | 1 | 1 | - | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | |
12 | Argentina | 1 | 0 | 1½ | - | 2 | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9½ | |
13 | France | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 2½ | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 9½ | |
14 | United States | ½ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 2½ | 2 | 5 | 0 | 9 | |
15 | India | 1 | ½ | 2 | 1½ | ½ | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9½ | |
16 | Australia | 0 | 0 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | ½ | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7½ |
Final «C»
No. | Country | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | + | − | = | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 | Denmark | - | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 1 | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | |
18 | Canada | 1 | - | 2½ | 1½ | 3 | ½ | 2 | 2½ | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 | |
19 | Colombia | 1½ | ½ | - | 1½ | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | |
20 | Brazil | 1½ | 1½ | 1½ | - | 2 | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 0 | 5 | 11½ | |
21 | Finland | 2 | 0 | 1½ | 1 | - | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11½ | |
22 | Scotland | 1½ | 2½ | 0 | 1 | 1½ | - | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | |
23 | Japan | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1½ | 0 | 1 | - | 2½ | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6½ | |
24 | Mexico | ½ | ½ | 1½ | 1½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5½ |
Final «D»
No. | Country | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | + | − | = | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25 | Wales | - | 2 | 2½ | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 17½ | |
26 | Iceland | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 13½ | |
27 | Venezuela | ½ | 1 | - | 2½ | 1½ | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | |
28 | Bolivia | 1½ | 2 | ½ | - | 1 | 1½ | 1½ | 2½ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10½ | |
29 | Uruguay | 0 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | - | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10½ | |
30 | New Zealand | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1½ | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10½ | |
31 | Monaco | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1½ | 0 | 1 | - | 1½ | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5½ | |
32 | Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1½ | - | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
Individual medals
- Board 1: Maia Chiburdanidze 9/11 = 81.8%
- Board 2: Nona Gaprindashvili 9½/11 = 86.4%
- Board 3: Nana Alexandria 8/10 = 80%
- Reserve: Elena Akhmilovskaya 10/10 = 100%
References
- ↑ Although commonly referred to as the men's division, this section is open to both male and female players.
- 23rd Chess Olympiad: Buenos Aires 1978 OlimpBase