FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	                   Contact:	Eric C. Johnson
September 16, 1998                            (845) 562-8350
Press Release #45 of 1998	             Local Contact: Frank Gardner
					                (702) 233-4138

U.S. TEAMS TO COMPETE IN ELISTA OLYMPIAD

The U.S. Chess Federation is sponsoring two teams in the upcoming World Chess Olympiad, scheduled for Sept. 26 through Oct. 13 in Elista, Kalmykia.

Kalmykia is a semi-autonomous region of Russia. Elista served as the site for the Karpov-Kamsky World Championship match in 1996.

The overall U.S. Olympiad Team includes:

	GM Alex Yermolinsky, 40, of Euclid, Ohio
	GM Alexander Shabalov, 31, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
	GM Gregory Kaidanov, 38, of Lexington, Ky.
	GM Yasser Seirawan, 38, of Seattle, Wash.
	GM Nick de Firmian, 41, formerly of New York, N.Y. but currently residing in Denmark
	GM Boris Gulko, 51, of Fairlawn, N.J.

At the previous Olympiad in Armenia in 1996, the overall U.S. Olympiad Team captured the bronze medal behind Russia (gold medal) and Ukraine (silver medal). The U.S. has excellent chances for a medal-finish again in 1998.

The USCF is also sponsoring a U.S. Women's Olympiad Team. The women's team members are:

	WGM Elena Donaldson, 41, of Seattle, Wash.	
	WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia, 29, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
	Irina Krush, 14, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
	WIM Esther Epstein, 44, of Newton, Mass.

WIM Epstein is the defending U.S. Women's Champion. The team captain is GM John Fedorowicz, 39, of New York, N.Y.

More than 100 countries will be sending teams to the Olympiad.

Chess enthusiasts can follow the results of the U.S. teams through periodic updates on the USCF website at www.uschess.org.

For more information about this and other chess events, contact Assistant Director Eric C. Johnson, U.S. Chess Federation, 3054 NYS Route 9W, New Windsor, NY 12553; phone: (845) 562-8350; FAX: (914) 561-2437; or see our weekly news column on the World Wide Web: http://www.uschess.org.