World Chess Team Championship Day One: Armenia Crashes Israel 3.5-0.5

NINGBO, CHINA — Armenia emerged as the early leader in world’s premier team chess championship giving Israel a 3.5-0.5 drubbing.
Without their star player Boris Gelfand, Israeli team lacked sting and Levon Aronian led from the front at the expense of Emil Sutovsky in this white wash.
During the opening ceremonies, Armenia captain Arshak Petrosian had announced his team – Levon Aronian, Sergei Movsesian, Vladimir Akopian, Gabriel Sargissian and Armenia 2011 champion Robert Hovhannisyan.
The event is being held from July 15 to July 26 at the playing venue in New Century Grand Hotel Ningbo, China. It is a kind of exclusive Olympiad, in which only ten elite teams compete for top honors. With such a high level selection, including the likes of Aronian, Karjakin, Ivanchuk, and more, there are no weak match-ups.
According to FIDE Regulations, the following Federations have sent a team: China (host country); Russia (winner 2009); Ukraine (Olympiad 2010); Israel (Olympiad 2010); Hungary (Olympiad 2010); Azerbaijan (Europe qualifier); India (Asia qualifier); USA (America’s qualifier); Egypt (African qualifier); Armenia (FIDE President’s nomination).
The championships will be played using a 9 round, round-robin system.
In other firts day matches, the United States went down to Russia 1-3 losing with black pieces on second and fourth board while lowest rank Egypt sprang a surprise knocking down 1.5 points off Ukraine.
China and Azerbaijan was a 2-2 draw and India salvage a 2-2 draw with Hungary.
Armenia – Israel individual results:
Aronian Levon 1 – 0 Sutovsky Emil
Movsesian Sergei ½ – ½ Roiz Michael Akopian Vladimir 1 – 0 Postny Evgeny Sargissian Gabriel 1 – 0 Nabaty Tamir