'Four Main Favourites': France's MVL Says India Are Not the Only Olympiad Contenders The 46th edition of the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand has kicked off with a surprising twist, as France's Maxime Vachier Lagrave (MVL) has his team pegged as outsiders.
In an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia. com, MVL identified four teams he believes have a legitimate shot at winning the tournament: USA, India, China, and Uzbekistan.
This assessment from one of the world's top players is telling, given that it may seem counterintuitive for someone who will be leading his team from Board 1 to downplay their chances.