After the free day, the fight continued again. In the centerstage encounter of the men Azerbaijan - Russia the Russians had the upper hand. They won their sixth victory in a row - by 2Ѕ:1Ѕ again. The only full point was due to Khalifman in his game against Ibrahimov. In Queen's Indian White got a lasting initiative. Later he sacrificed a piece for two pawns and left Black no chance for salvation. There was a dramatic finish in the game T. Radjabov (Aze) - P. Svidler (Rus). White had the initiative in the time trouble, but Svidler found sufficient counterplay.

Netherlands won a precious victory over Israel with the same score. The first one to finish was the game Tiviakov (NTH) - Smirin (Isr). In the Sveshnikov variation of Sicialian White apllied an interesting novelty, to which Black did not react in the best way. Gelfand (Isr) precisely converted his minimal advantage against Loek van Wely (NTH).

Th Unkrainians had a day and slashed the Germans by 3Ѕ:Ѕ. France and Hungary ended in a clinch - 2:2, following two draws and an exchange of victories on the first two boards. For Hungary P. Acz won against J. Lautier, and for France - L. Fressinet, who scored against F. Berkes.

The Serbia and Montenegro team subdued Macedonia with great difficulties by 2Ѕ:1Ѕ, when M. Pavlovic beat Vl. Georgiev. The outcome could be different, had N. Mitkov (FYROM) spotted the single-move victory in the time trouble.

Bulgaria-1 scored an important victory over Estonia. The first point was due to J. Radulski (White), who played very well Vienna game and achieved a significant advantage, which was promptly converted. V. Spasov on Board 2 got a better position after the opening, but in the ensuing prolonged struggle Black managed to neutralise his initiative and the game was drawn. The match was decided after A. Delchev (Board 1) was very convincing against K. Kulaots.

With the ladies the major battle was between Armenia and Russia. The match was drawn after some great and dramatic struggle. Danielian (Arm) - Galliamova (Rus) played Queen's Indian. Black sacrificed a piece, and as a result obtained some very strong initiative. Gradually White managed to regain the balance. The strong white passed pawn on "f7" decided the draw in the endgame. The second game did not end victoriously either. The match point lost by the Russians allowed the Polish team to tie them on the top of the ranking, after the latter scored a very important victory against the first team of the hosts.

Bulgaria-1 - Poland Ѕ:1Ѕ. Antoaneta Stefanova and Iveta Radjievich played a Benoni. A double-edged position emerged, where each move was decisive. At the critical point A. Stefanova played iaccurately 25.Qb7, a move, which forced a material loss. 25.Bf4 instead preserved the bishop pair and practical chances for a draw. There were no miracles in the time trouble and Antoaneta had to resign. In the other game Socko - M. Voiska, Black easily equalised in the opening and even got an advantage. But also in this game the Bulgarian grandmaster overlooked a tactical blow of her adversary, 32.Nd5!, and lost a pawn. Regardless of that, Black's advanage was enough to retain the ballance and the draw was not a problem. All in all Bulgaria-1 lost an important match in the competition for the medals.

WIM Pavlina Chilingirova