USA retain the world 50+ title, while Germany-Lasker SGK win the 65+ equivalent, with England fourth in both events
England finished out of the medals for the first time in five years in this week’s world senior team championships for over-50s and over-65s, played at Durres, Albania, as the US, fielding a largely former USSR squad, retained the over-50 gold medals, while a nominally German team, which also included a former Soviet star, won the over-65s event.
The US victory was clear but had a controversial aspect in the team’s use of package deals, which are forbidden in Olympiads but still allowed in senior events.
In round seven, the US drew with Kazakhstan after an hour’s play by agreeing all four games drawn in a total of 65 moves, including a 10-mover on board one. In the final round, they made sure of the gold medals by a 27-move total against Iceland, including draws of five moves or fewer on all the bottom three boards.
England’s 50+ failure partly reflects a rare form downturn by top board and reigning nine-time British champion Michael Adams in the first half of the event, but also raises questions about general selection policy.
