At the 42nd Chess Olympiad just finished in Baku, Azerbajan, the U.S.chess team has won gold for the first time in 40 years. Captained by Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Director John Donaldson and anchored by Bay Area resident Grandmaster Sam Shankland on 4th board, the U.S. team was undefeated, with only 2 drawn matches, against the Czech Republic and top-ranked Russia. The U.S. team garnished 2 other medals: gold for GM Wesley So on board 3, and bronze for 1st board GM Fabiano Caruana. This is the strongest U.S. team since the 1930's, and led by three of the top ten players in the world: So, Caruana, and GM Hikaru Nakamura. Our congratulations to the U.S. team -- well done!
Come celebrate the U.S. chess team's historic gold victory at the 42nd Olympics in Baku, Azerbajan! On Tuesday, September 20th from 4pm-5pm we are serving refreshments at the Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room on the 4th floor. US Olympic team captain and M.I. Chess Room Director John Donaldson will preside!
