The Chmapionship has just started, but as early as the second round the pairing matched among themselves four of the major medal contenders. Russia - Spain and Israel - France were the central encounters of the round. It was only natural that they focused the attention of hundreds of chess lovers, who filled the audience area of Hall No.3 of the Plovdiv Fair grounds. These four teams are among the 5 teams with the highest preliminary ranking taking part in the Championship. Of all the favourites, Ukraine was the only one to lag at the start, but the team had serious difficulties in their first round match with Sweden.

Russia - Spain 2Ѕ:1Ѕ. A second win of the Russian chess players, which we must say was not achieved easily. There was Caro-Kann on the first two boards, but Black did not manage to resolve their problems successfully. Alexei Shirov (ESP) underestimated a tactical blow of Peter Svidler (RUS) on move 22 and arrived at a hopeless position.

Evgeny Bareev (RUS) had a difficult time playing against Valejo (ESP) and ultimately was forced to resign. The second point for the Russian team was due Alexander Morozevich, who achieved a convincing win playing Black against Romero Holmes.

There was some fierce struggle in the other match, in which Israel overcame France 2Ѕ:1Ѕ, after three draws and a win of the former European Champion Emil Sutovsky (ISR) over C. Bauer.

The World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) played a true champion's game with Papaioannou (GRE) in Scandinavian Defence.His teammates were also in matching shape and that resulted in a devastating score of 3Ѕ: Ѕ .

One of the most interesting games of the round was the one between Teimour Radjabov (AZE) - the youngest grandmaster in the Championship and the oldest - Victor Kortschnoi (SWI). In the mutual time trouble youth prevailed over experience.

Today the Bulgarian chess players were victorious on all fronts. The match of the first team with Iceland started with great difficulties. Aleksander Delchev playing White took the upper hand against T. Torhallsson on board 1, but then slipped and the game acquired very sharp and unclear character. Later when he proposed a draw the position was objectively equal. The game B.Chatlabashev - S. Kristjansson was very sharp and resulted in a win of the former. It also passed through a lot of dramatic situations. Ivan Cheparinov had a good day again and scored brilliantly.In the fourth game Vasil Spasov's (board 2) play was solid and sound and the draw was logical.

The play of the second Bulgarian team was uneven.On board 1 J.Shaw (SCO) quickly evened the chances and Peter Genov had to agree to the draw. On the two other boards the Bulgarians were somewhat better but that was not enough for a full point. Ultimately Valentin Iotov, who made his debut on the National team, and had a rather suspicious position most of the time, won and brought the victory of the team.

The women's matches featured also some direct encounters between medal contenders. Russia - Roumania and Georgia - Greece. There is a lot of unknowns here, since most of the leading teams are roughly of equal or similar strength, and it seems that decisive for the final ranking will be the general condition of the players, especially their psychic stability.

A second victory for the girls from Russia and Georgia. The first boards in both matches were drawn, but Svetlana Matveeva (RUS) scored against A. Motoc (ROM), and N. Dragnidze (GEO) - against M. Makropoulou (GRE).

The Bulgarian teams also scored precious victories. The first team prevailed over the European Chmpions from Leon 2001 - France by 1Ѕ: Ѕ, following a marvelous win of Margarita Viska on board 2 against S. Miliet. The game between the leaders of the two teams Antoaneta Stefanova and Almira Skripchenko-Lautier ended in a draw. The same result scored the second Bulgarian team against Netherlands. Here, on board 1, Maria Velcheva prevailed easily over Peng.

gm Valentin Lukov