Germany and Russia pull away

Round 5 has finished in the Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. It has been very difficult to get hold of correct gamescores from the earliest rounds, but the official site's live service seems to be working at the moment.

Germany beat Israel 1-3 in the top match of the round. Games: Gelfand - Jussupov ½-½ Smirin - Hübner ½-½ Avrukh - Dautov 0-1 Huzman - Bischoff 0-1

Russia are catching up, having defeated Brazil convincingly 3½-½, with Morozevich as the only non-winner.

Hodgson's familiar Trompowski opening delivered and England beat Yugoslavia 1½-2½: Damljanovic - Short 1-0 Ilincic - Hodgson 0-1 Ivanisevic - Speelman 0-1 Solak - Emms ½-½

Hungary proved equal with the tournament surprise team India, who are playing without Viswanathan Anand. Peter Leko beat Sasikirian, but Almasi lost against Kunte.

Spain scored 2-2 against the Netherlands. Shirov crushed van Wely on board one with the fashionable Perenyi "take my pieces" Sicilian: Shirov - van Wely 1-0 Comas Fabrego - Piket ½-½ Magem Badals - Tiviakov ½-½ Gomez Esteban - Nijboer 0-1

The USA have outclassed Mongolia 3½-½.

The controversially Elo strong Myanmar were trounced 4-0 by Slovakia.