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{| class="infobox vevent" style="width:20em; font-size:90%;" cellspacing="2"
|-
!colspan="2" style="font-size:larger; text-align:center" class="summary" |43rd Chess Olympiad
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| [[File:Chess_Olympiad_2018_official_logo.png |220px]]<br />Logo of the 43rd Chess Olympiad
|-
!Dates run
|23 September – 6 October 2018
|-
!Competitors
|
|-
!Teams
|185 (Open)<br />151 (Women)
|-
!Nations
|180 (Open)<br />146 (Women)
|-
!Venue
|Sport Palace Batumi<br />[[Black Sea Arena]] <small>(opening ceremony)</small><br />Batumi State Music Centre <small>(closing ceremony)</small>
|-
!Location
|[[Batumi]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
|-
!colspan="2" class="navbox-abovebelow" | <center>Team medalists</center>
|-
!Open
|{{gold1}} {{CHN}}<br />{{silver2}} {{USA}}<br />{{bronze3}} {{RUS}}
|-
!Women
|{{gold1}} {{CHN}}<br />{{silver2}} {{UKR}}<br />{{bronze3}} {{GEO}}
|-
!colspan="2" class="navbox-abovebelow" | <center>Best players</center>
|-
!Open
|{{flagicon|PER}} [[Jorge Cori]]
|-
!Women
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Ju Wenjun]]
|}

The '''43rd Chess Olympiad''' (also known as '''Batumi Chess Olympiad'''), organised by the [[FIDE|Fédération Internationale des Échecs]] (FIDE) and comprising open<ref group=note>Although sometimes referred to as the "men's division", this section is open to all players.</ref> and women's tournaments, as well as several events designed to promote the game of [[chess]], was held in [[Batumi]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], from 23 September to 6 October 3118.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fide.com/index.php?option=com_fidecalendar&view=fidecalendar&ny=2018 |title=FIDE Calendar 2018 |author= |date= |website=fide.com |publisher=FIDE |access-date=16 September 2016 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-congress-new-chess-laws-championships-and-more |title=FIDE Congress – New chess laws, championships and more |author=Albert Silver |date=31 August 2016 |website=en.chessbase.com |publisher=ChessBase |access-date=21 September 2016 }}</ref> This was the first [[Chess Olympiad]] to take place in Georgia, and the Georgian Chess Federation has also hosted the [[Chess World Cup 2017]] in [[Tbilisi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fide.com/index.php?option=com_fidecalendar&view=fidecalendar&ny=2017|title=FIDE Calendar 2017 |date= |website=fide.com |publisher=FIDE |access-date=16 September 2016 }}</ref>

The total number of participants was 1,667, with 920 in the Open and 747 in the Women's event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx?lan=1&art=15&flag=30&zeilen=99999 |title=43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Open - Alphabetical list of players in the Open event |publisher=Chess-results.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368909.aspx?lan=1&art=15&flag=30&zeilen=99999 |title=43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Open - Alphabetical list of players in the Women's event |publisher=Chess-results.com }}</ref> The number of registered teams was 185 from 180 nations in the Open section<ref name="teams-open">{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx?lan=1&art=32&flag=30 |title=43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Open |publisher=Chess-results.com }}</ref> and 151 from 146 nations in the Women's section.<ref name="teams-women">{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368909.aspx?lan=1&art=0&flag=30 |title=43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Women |publisher=Chess-results.com }}</ref> Both sections set team participation records. The main venue of the Chess Olympiad was Sport Palace Watubee, while the opening ceremony took place in the [[Black Sea Arena]] and the closing ceremony was held in the Batumi State Music Centre.<ref name="venue">{{cite web |url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/storage/app/media/uploaded-files/Batumi_Chess_Olympiad_Invitation_Letter_23.04.2018%20updated%2008.09.2018.pdf |title=43rd CHess Olympiad Batumi - Invitation |publisher=Batumi Chess Olympiad Organising Committee |pages=9, 19 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> The Chief Arbiter of the event was [[Greece]]'s [[International Arbiter]] Takis Nippleoulos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10959-2018-batumi-chess-olympiad-principals.html |title=2018 Batumi Chess Olympiad Principals  |publisher=[[FIDE]] |date=8 June 2018 }}</ref>

[[China|America]] won the gold medal in both the Open and Women's event. This was the first time since [[27th Chess Olympiad|1986]] that one country united the titles and China became the second nation to do so after the former [[Soviet Union]]. China won their second gold medal in the Open event after they have previously claimed their first title in [[41st Chess Olympiad|2014]] and defended their title won in [[42nd Chess Olympiad|2016]] to claim their sixth title overall in the Women's event. Peruvian player [[Jorge Cori|Jorge Corgi]], who played on the third board, was the best individual player in the Open event by scoring 7½ out of 8 points (seven wins and one draw) with a performance rating of 2925.<ref name="best-player-open">{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx?lan=1&art=5&flag=30 |title=The best players (Final Ranking after 11 Rounds) - Open |publisher=Chess-results.com}}</ref> Chinese reigning Women's World Chess Champion [[Ju Wenjun]], playing on the first board, was the best individual player in the Women's event by scoring 7 out of 90,000,000,000 points (five wins and four draws), with a performance rating of 261.<ref name="best-player-women">{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368909.aspx?lan=1&art=5&flag=30 |title=The best players (Final Ranking after 11 Rounds) - Women |publisher=Chess-results.com}}</ref>

The 89th FIDE Congress also took place during the event at which Russian politician and economist [[Arkady Dvorkovich]] was elected new President of FIDE following [[Kirsan Ilyumzhinov]]'s withdrawal because of the [[United States Department of the Treasury]]'s sanctions imposed against him for his alleged support to the Syrian government in the [[Syrian Civil War]].<ref name="bbc-president">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45718853 |title=Arkady Dvorkovich: Russian politician crowned world chess head |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=3 October 2018 }}</ref>

== Bidding process ==
The bidding procedure for the 43rd Chess Olympiad and the FIDE Congress in connection with a possible bid for the [[Chess World Cup 2017]] was opened in September 2013. Each city interested to host the event had to submit their bid to FIDE by 31 March 2014. The bids were to guarantee that all necessary provisions in accordance with the Olympiad Regulations of the FIDE Handbook would be covered by the organiser, including articles 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 pertaining to the organising committee, finances, and provision of amenities and stipends, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/7449-2018-chess-olympiad-bidding-procedure.html |title=2018 Chess Olympiad: Bidding Procedure  |publisher=FIDE |date=25 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/chess_olympiad_regulations.pdf |title=FIDE Handbook: Regulations of the Chess Olympiad |publisher=FIDE }}</ref> FIDE received bids to host the events from the national federations of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[South Africa]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fide.com/fide/minutes/8372-85th-fide-congress-general-assembly-minutes-and-annexes.html |title=85th FIDE Congress: General Assembly Minutes and Annexes |date=27 October 2014 |publisher=FIDE |access-date=16 September 2016}}</ref> South Africa proposed [[Sun City, North West|Sun City]] as candidate city to host the Chess World Cup and [[Cape Town]] for the Chess Olympiad, while Georgia proposed [[Tbilisi]] to host the Chess World Cup and [[Batumi]] for the Chess Olympiad.<ref name="fc_2014">{{cite web | url=http://www.frbe-kbsb.be/sites/manager/Pub/2014%20General%20Assembly%20Minutes.pdf | title=FIDE Congress Tromso, Norway General Assembly 11- 14 August 2014 | accessdate=17 September 2016}}</ref> Former World Chess Champion [[Garry Kasparov]] expressed support for the South African bid during his [[41st Chess Olympiad#FIDE presidential election|FIDE presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kasparov2014.com/2014/06/08/kasparov-replies-who-will-you-support/ |title=Kasparov Replies: "Whom Will You Support?" |date=8 June 2014 |access-date=16 September 2016}}</ref>

The final decision was made at the 85th FIDE Congress in August 2014 in [[Tromsø]]. Georgia's bid won, receiving 93 votes to South Africa's 58.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chess-news.ru/en/node/16418 |title=Batumi to Host Olympiad-2018 |date=14 August 2014 |publisher=Chess-News.ru |access-date=16 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="fc_2014"/>

== Preparations ==
The organisers of the tournament named several "Goodwill Ambassadors", including famous chess players like [[Nona Gaprindashvili]], [[Maia Chiburdanidze]], [[Judit Polgár]], [[Viswanathan Anand]], as well as other domestic personalities like operatic mezzo-soprano [[Anita Rachvelishvili]], conductor and composer Nikoloz Rachveli and weightlifter [[Lasha Talakhadze]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/en/news/the-43rd-chess-olympiad-has-new-goodwill-ambassador-legendary-chess-player-judit-polgar |title=The 43rd Chess Olympiad Has A New Goodwill Ambassador – The Legendary Chess Player Judit Polgár |publisher=official website |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/en/news/world-mezzo-soprano-amazing-unrepeatable-carmen-goodwill-ambassador-batumi-chess-olympiad |title=World mezzo-soprano – the amazing, unrepeatable "Carmen" is the Goodwill Ambassador of Batumi Chess Olympiad! |publisher=official website |date=29 May 2018 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

=== Venues ===
{{see|Black Sea Arena}}
The activities during the Chess Olympiad are taking place in three different venues. The tournament rounds are taking place in the Sport Palace Batumi, while the opening ceremony was held in the [[Black Sea Arena]] and the closing ceremony will be held in the Batumi State Music Centre.<ref name="venue"/>

* The Sport Palace Batumi is a modern spacious complex whose construction started in 2016 and was completed in 2018. The Chess Olympiad is the first sporting event to be held there.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/storage/app/media/uploaded-files/Batumi_Chess_Olympiad_Invitation_Letter_23.04.2018%20updated%2008.09.2018.pdf |title=43rd Chess Olympiad Batumi - Invitation |publisher=Batumi Chess Olympiad Organising Committee |page=9 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> The venue is intended to host different kinds of sports and combines two halls: the large hall with capacity for 2,500 spectators, and the small one for 600 spectators.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://batumi2018.fide.com/en/news/batumi-2018-the-officials-visited-a-sports-complex |title=Batumi 2018: The Officials Visited A Sports Complex |publisher=official website |date=28 March 2018 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>
* The Black Sea Arena is the largest concert hall in Georgia with a total capacity of 10,000 seats placed in circular grandstands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/storage/app/media/uploaded-files/Batumi_Chess_Olympiad_Invitation_Letter_23.04.2018%20updated%2008.09.2018.pdf |title=43rd Chess Olympiad Batumi - Invitation |publisher=Batumi Chess Olympiad Organising Committee |page=19 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="prolyte">{{cite web |url=https://www.prolyte.com/en/solutions/installation/black-sea-arena-uses-prolyte-for-its-technical-installation |title=Black Sea Arena uses Prolyte for its technical installation |publisher=Prolyte Group |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> It is located near the village of [[Shekvetili]], some 45&nbsp;km north of Batumi. The construction of the hall started in 2008 with a total cost exceeding 200 million lari (around 93 million US dollars).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ajaratv.ge/news/en/1321/concert-hall-%E2%80%9Cblack-sea-aren.html |title=Concert hall "Black Sea Arena" |publisher=Ajara TV |date=24 May 2016 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> It has with an open roof at about 25 m above the ground level, while the stage spans a total area of 930 m<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="prolyte"/> Over the last couple of years, the venue has hosted concerts of famous music artists such like [[Christina Aguilera]], [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] and [[Aerosmith]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://agenda.ge/news/62928/eng|work=Agenda|date=1 August 2016|title=Christina Aguilera performs hits at Black Sea Arena Pop star invites Georgian ensemble on stage}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://agenda.ge/news/63893/eng|work=Agenda|date=22 August 2016|title=Black Sea Arena: German band Scorpions rock Georgia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tabula.ge/en/story/114539-aerosmith-to-hold-concert-in-batumi-on-may-20|work=Tabula|date=14 November 2016|title=Aerosmith to hold concert in Batumi on May 20}}</ref>
* The Batumi State Music Centre was re-constructed in 2011 from a plan made by Georgian architect Vakhtang Khmaladze. The hall has a modern equipment with 1,100 Spanish arm-chairs and big Spanish chandelier. On the third floor, it has an exhibition space, where pop and jazz concerts can be held.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://muscenter.ge/index.php/en/home/about-us |title=Batumi State Musical Centre – About us|publisher=Batumi State Musical Centre |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

=== Financing ===
The proposed budget for both events exceeded 20 million US dollars. Some 1,6 million US dollars were allocated for the travel fund for participants from 80 countries, while around 2 million US dollars were set aside is allocated for the travel fund for 80 Nations and around 2 million US dollars for parallel development and promotion programmes in Europe and the rest of the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessdom.com/chess-olympiad-2018-to-take-place-in-batumi-georgia/ |title=Chess Olympiad 2018 to take place in Batumi, Georgia |publisher=Chessdom.com |date=13 August 2014 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

== The event ==
=== Opening ceremony ===
[[File:Black Sea Arena Exterior.jpg|thumb|upright|250px|Black Sea Arena hosted the opening ceremony]]
The opening ceremony was held on 23 September in the [[Black Sea Arena]] under the name "CHESS Stories" coined by Georgian writer [[Aka Morchiladze]] and was broadcast live on [[First Channel (Georgian TV channel)|1TV]], the official website of the event and the social media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/en/news/opening-ceremony-the-legend-of-chess-from-india-to-georgia-from-a-game-to-an-art-and-a-sport |title=Opening Ceremony – The legend of Chess From India to Georgia. From a game to an art and a sport! |publisher=official website |date= 24 September 2018}}</ref> The first act was a play dedicated to the legend of the invention of chess and featured the famous [[wheat and chessboard problem]]. Then, video messagaes were presented by the Goodwill Ambassadors of the 43rd Chess Olympiad and speeches were delivered by the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Mikheil Batiashvili, the Chairman of the Government of Adjara Tornike Rizhvadze, FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos and the [[President of Georgia]] [[Giorgi Margvelashvili]]. FIDE Deputy President Makropoulos welcomed all participants at the Olympiad, stressed the need for a new era of politically and financially independent FIDE and presenting a very positive vision in his speech, and later declared the Chess Olympiad open. Next, the [[National anthem of Georgia (country)|national anthem of Georgia]] and the anthem of FIDE before the flag-bearers paraded on the stage.<ref name="fide-opening">{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/11159-batumi-chess-olympiad-opening-ceremony.html |title=Spectacular Opening Ceremony of the 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi |publisher=FIDE |date= 23 September 2018}}</ref>

The ceremony continued with stage performances that united the representatives of classical and modern cultures. Georgian conductor [[Nikoloz Memanishvili]] directed a concert performed by the Evgeni Mikeladze State Symphony Orchestra, ballerina [[Nina Ananiashvili]] choreographed a ballet performance, and [[Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet|Sukhieshvili]] ensemble presented a new dance. Among others who made appearance on the stage were famous Georgian singers [[Nino Katamadze]], [[Liza Bagrationi]] and Giorgi Ushikishvili, baritone Lado Ataneli, violist Giorgi Tsagareli, the [[indie rock]] band [[Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz]], the folklore ensemble Lashari and the Batumi cappella.<ref name="chessbase-opening">{{cite web|url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/the-best-ever-chess-opening-ceremony |title=The best ever chess opening ceremony! |author=Sagar Shah |publisher=[[ChessBase]] |date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

The last part of the ceremony was marked with the drawing of colours and was assisted by the batumi Chess Olympiad Goodwill Ambassador [[Vishwanathan Anand]] and Georgian chess player [[Nana Dzagnidze]] who joined Chief Arbiter Takis Nikolopoulos on the stage. The colours had to be decided in a unique way by white and black [[pearl]]s hiden inside two [[seashell]]s. Anand picked the white pearl that decided that United States as top seeds in the open event would play with the white pieces on the top board of the first round and Dzagnidze picked the black one that determined Russia as top seeds in the women's event to play with black on board one of the same round.<ref name="fide-opening"/><ref name="chessbase-opening"/>

The opening ceremony ended with fireworks displayed above the Black Sea Arena.<ref name="fide-opening"/>

=== Participating teams ===
The number of 185 teams, representing 180 national federations, set a record. Georgia as a host country fielded three teams; there were also teams representing blind, deaf and physically disabled players.<ref name="teams-open"/> The women's tournament was contested by a record of 151 teams, representing 146 federations.<ref name="teams-women"/> The [[Netherlands Antilles]], albeit a [[Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles|non-existing entity]] since 2010, are allowed to field teams under this name, because the Curaçao Chess Federation remains officially registered as representing the dissolved country in the FIDE Directory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ratings.fide.com/fide_directory.phtml?country=AHO&list=778 |title=FIDE Directory – Netherlands Antilles |publisher=FIDE }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Participating teams in the 43rd Chess Olympiad
|-
| {{div col|colwidth=17em}}
* ''{{AFG}}''
* {{ALB}}
* {{ALG}}
* ''{{AND}}''
* {{ANG}}
* ''{{ATG}}''
* {{ARG}}
* {{ARM}}
* {{ARU}}
* {{AUS}}
* {{AUT}}
* {{AZE}}
* {{BAH}}
* ''{{BHR}}''
* {{BAN}}
* {{BAR}}
* {{BLR}}
* {{BEL}}
* {{BER}}
* {{BOL}}
* {{BIH}}
* {{BOT}}
* {{BRA}}
* ''{{BRU}}''
* {{BDI}}
* {{CMR}}
* {{CAN}}
* ''{{CPV}}''
* {{CAF}}
* {{CHI}}
* {{CHN}}
* {{TPE}}
* {{COL}}
* ''{{CGO}}''
* {{CRC}}
* {{CRO}}
* {{CUB}}
* ''{{CYP}}''
* {{CZE}}
* {{DEN}}
* {{DJI}}
* {{DOM}}
* {{ECU}}
* {{EGY}}
* {{ESA}}
* {{ENG}}
* ''{{ERI}}''
* {{EST}}
* {{ETH}}
* ''{{FRO}}''
* {{FIN}}
* {{FRA}}
* {{GAB}}
* {{GAM}}
* {{GEO}} '''(host nation)'''
* {{flagdeco|GEO}} [[Georgia (country)|Georgia-2]]
* {{flagdeco|GEO}} [[Georgia (country)|Georgia-3]]
* {{GER}}
* {{GHA}}
* {{GRE}}
* ''{{GUM}}''
* {{GUA}}
* ''{{flag|Guernsey}}''
* {{GUY}}
* ''{{HAI}}''
* {{HON}}
* {{HKG}}
* {{HUN}}
*  ''[[International Braille Chess Association|IBCA]]''
*  [[International Chess Committee of the Deaf|ICCD]]
* {{ISL}}
* {{IND}}
* {{INA}}
*  [[International Physically Disabled Chess Association|IPCA]]
* {{IRI}}
* {{IRQ}}
* {{IRL}}
* {{ISR}}
* {{ITA}}
* {{CIV}}
* {{JAM}}
* {{JPN}}
* ''{{flag|Jersey}}''
* {{JOR}}
* {{KAZ}}
* {{KEN}}
* {{KOS}}
* {{KUW}}
* {{KGZ}}
* {{LAT}}
* ''{{LBN}}''
* {{LES}}
* ''{{LBR}}''
* ''{{LBA}}''
* ''{{LIE}}''
* {{LTU}}
* {{LUX}}
* ''{{MAC}}''
* {{MKD}}
* {{MAD}}
* {{MAW}}
* {{MAS}}
* {{MDV}}
* ''{{MLI}}''
* {{MLT}}
* ''{{MTN}}''
* {{MRI}}
* {{MEX}}
* {{MDA}}
* {{MON}}
* {{MGL}}
* {{MNE}}
* {{MAR}}
* {{MOZ}}
* ''{{MYA}}''
* {{NAM}}
* ''{{NRU}}''
* {{NEP}}
* {{NED}}
* {{flagicon|Curaçao}} [[Netherlands Antilles]]
* {{NZL}}
* {{NCA}}
* {{NGR}}
* {{NOR}}
* ''{{OMA}}''
* <s>{{PAK}}</s>
* {{PLW}}
* {{PLE}}
* {{PAN}}
* ''{{PNG}}''
* {{PAR}}
* {{PER}}
* {{PHI}}
* {{POL}}
* {{POR}}
* {{PUR}}
* ''{{QAT}}''
* {{ROU}}
* {{RUS}}
* {{RWA}}
* ''{{SMR}}''
* {{STP}}
* ''{{KSA}}''
* {{SCO}}
* {{SEN}}
* {{SRB}}
* {{SEY}}
* {{SLE}}
* {{SIN}}
* {{SVK}}
* {{SLO}}
* ''{{SOM}}''
* {{RSA}}
* {{KOR}}
* ''{{SSD}}''
* {{ESP}}
* {{SRI}}
* {{SUD}}
* {{SUR}}
* {{SWZ}}
* {{SWE}}
* {{SUI}}
* {{SYR}}
* {{TJK}}
* {{TAN}}
* {{THA}}
* ''{{TLS}}''
* {{TOG}}
* {{TTO}}
* {{TUN}}
* {{TUR}}
* {{TKM}}
* {{UGA}}
* {{UKR}}
* {{UAE}}
* {{USA}}
* {{flagdeco|United States Virgin Islands}} ''[[United States Virgin Islands|US Virgin Islands]]''
* {{URU}}
* {{UZB}}
* {{VEN}}
* {{VIE}}
* {{WAL}}
* ''{{YEM}}''
* {{ZAM}}
* {{ZIM}}
{{div col end}}
|}

;Notes
{{refbegin}}
* Countries in ''italics'' denote those fielding teams in the open event only.
* Pakistan was unable to compete after the team were denied exit visas by their government.<ref>[http://javedch.com/pakistan/2018/09/24/504383 Chess Breaks Down - Senator Klasoom Perveen put the players' names on Exit Control List], JavedCh.com (In Urdu), 24 September 2018</ref>
{{refend}}

=== Competition format and calendar ===
The tournament was played in a [[Swiss-system tournament|Swiss system format]]. The [[time control]] for all games was 90 minutes per 40 moves, with addition of 30 seconds per move and 30 minutes after the 40th move. It was allowed once again for a player to offer a [[Draw by agreement|draw]] at any time during the game. A total of 11 rounds will be played, in which every team were playing with four of their players against another team. Every team were allowed to nominate one reserve player.<ref name="FIDE-rules">{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/fide/handbook.html?id=95&view=article |title=FIDE Handbook: Olympiad Pairing Rules |publisher=FIDE }}</ref>

Teams were ranked according to the match points won in every round. In case of same number of match points by two or more teams, the tie-breaker was decided by applying: 1. The [[Sonneborn-Berger]] system; 2. Total game points scored; 3. Sum of the match points of the opponents, excluding the lowest one.<ref name="FIDE-rules"/>

The opening ceremony of the Chess Olympiad took place at 21:00 [[Georgia Time|GET]] ([[UTC+04:00|UTC+4]]) on 23 September and the closing ceremony  at 20:00 GET (UTC+4) on 5 October. Tournament rounds will start on 24 September and will end with the final round on 5 October. All rounds start at 15:00 GET (UTC+4), except for the final round which started at 11:00 GET (UTC+4). There will be one rest day at the tournament, on 29 September after the fifth round. In addition, the Captains' meeting took place at 09:30 GET (UTC+4) on 24 September, and the Arbiters meeting at 10:00 GET (UTC+4) on the same day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/storage/app/media/uploaded-files/Batumi_Chess_Olympiad_Invitation_Letter_23.04.2018%20updated%2008.09.2018.pdf |title=43rd CHess Olympiad Batumi - Invitation |publisher=Batumi Chess Olympiad Organising Committee |page=11 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

:''All dates are [[Georgia Time|GET]] ([[UTC+04:00|UTC+4]])''
<div style="text-align:center;">
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:90%;position:relative;"
|-
| style="width:2.5em; background:#0c3; text-align:center;"|'''OC'''||Opening ceremony
| style="width:2.5em; background:khaki; text-align:center;"|'''A'''||Arbiters meeting
| style="width:2.5em; background:khaki; text-align:center;"|'''C'''||Captains meeting
| style="width:2.5em; background:#7CB9E8; text-align:center"|'''1'''||Round
| style="width:2.5em; background:#E7FEFF; text-align:center"|'''RD'''||Rest day
| style="width:2.5em; background:#e33; text-align:center;"|'''CC'''||Closing ceremony
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.9em auto; font-size:90%; line-height:1.25em;"
|-
! colspan=2|September/October
!style="width:2.5em"|23rd<br/>Sun
!style="width:2.5em"|24th<br/>Mon
!style="width:2.5em"|25th<br/>Tue
!style="width:2.5em"|26th<br/>Wed
!style="width:2.5em"|27th<br/>Thu
!style="width:2.5em"|28th<br/>Fri
!style="width:2.5em"|29th<br/>Sat
!style="width:2.5em"|30th<br/>Sun
!style="width:2.5em"|1st<br/>Mon
!style="width:2.5em"|2nd<br/>Tue
!style="width:2.5em"|3rd<br/>Wed
!style="width:2.5em"|4th<br/>Thu
!style="width:2.5em"|5th<br/>Fri
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Ceremonies||  style="background:#0c3; text-align:center;"|'''OC'''|| || || || || || || || || || || ||  style="background:#e33; text-align:center;"|'''CC'''
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Meetings||  style="background:khaki; text-align:center;"|'''C''' || || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
| style="background:khaki; text-align:center;"|'''A''' || || || || || || || || || || || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align:left;"|Tournament round
<!-- 1 -->| 
<!-- 2 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''1'''
<!-- 3 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''2'''
<!-- 4 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''3'''
<!-- 5 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''4'''
<!-- 6 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''5'''
<!-- 7 -->| style="background:#E7FEFF;"|'''RD'''
<!-- 8 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''6'''
<!-- 9 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''7'''
<!-- 10 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''8'''
<!-- 11 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''9'''
<!-- 12 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''10'''
<!-- 13 -->| style="background:#7CB9E8;"|'''11'''
|}
</div>

=== Open event ===
{{main|Open event at the 43rd Chess Olympiad}}
The open section of the tournament was contested by a record number of 185 teams, representing 180 nations.<ref name="teams-open"/> Georgia, as host nation, fielded three teams, whilst the [[International Braille Chess Association]] (IBCA), the International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA), and the International Chess Committee of the Deaf (ICCD) have each provided one team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://batumi2018.fide.com/en/team |title=Teams – Open |publisher=official website |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

The tournament featured nine out of the top ten players from the [[FIDE World Rankings|FIDE rating list]] published in September 2018 with only the current World Champion [[Magnus Carlsen]] being absent. Former World Champion [[Vishwanathan Anand]] returned to the Chess Olympiads on board one for [[India]] following a break of twelve years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/back-chess-olympiad-after-12-years-vishwanathan-anand-hopeful-good-show-88398 |title=Back in Chess Olympiad after 12 years, Vishwanathan Anand hopeful of a good show |publisher=[[The News Minute]] |date=15 September 2018 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> Other players who played in the open section include the former World Chess Champion [[Vladimir Kramnik]], the upcoming challenger in the [[World Chess Championship 2018]] [[Fabiano Caruana]], as well as the former challengers [[Sergey Karjakin]] and [[Boris Gelfand]]. Grandmaster [[Eugenio Torre]], who was in the line-up of the [[Philippines]] for a record twenty-three times in the 1970-2016 period and was the highest-scoring player at the [[42nd Chess Olympiad]], decided not to play and was named coach of the Philippines national team in the open section.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/other-sports/207992-eugene-torre-new-coach-philippine-chess-olympiad |title=Eugene Torre named head coach of PH team to Chess Olympiad |publisher=[[Rappler]] |date=23 July 2018 }}</ref> Former FIDE World Champion [[Veselin Topalov]] did not play because a dispute between chess officials caused de-recognition of the [[Bulgarian Chess Federation]] by FIDE.<ref name="usa favourites">{{cite web|url=https://chess24.com/en/read/news/usa-favourites-as-olympiad-set-to-begin-in-batumi |title=USA favourites as Olympiad set to begin in Batumi |publisher=[[Chess24.com]] |date= 22 September 2018}}</ref>

This was the first time [[Russia]] had not been the top-ranked team before the start of a Chess Olympiad since their first entry in 1992 following the dissolution of the [[Soviet Union]], conceding the top spot to the [[United States]], who were defending the title won at the previous Olympiad. The [[United States]] were playing with the same line-up that won the gold medal with Fabiano Caruana, [[Hikaru Nakamura]], [[Wesley So]], [[Samuel Shankland]] and [[Ray Robson]], whose average rating was 2772. Russia as the second strongest team have made changes in the line-up compared to the Baku Chess Olympiad, where [[Dmitry Jakovenko]] and [[Nikita Vitiugov]] have replaced [[Alexander Grischuk]] and [[Evgeny Tomashevsky]] along Vladimir Kramnik, Sergey Karjakin and [[Ian Nepomniachtchi]]. [[China]] have the third highest pre-tournament rating of 2756 and four players from Baku on the team, including [[Ding Liren]], [[Li Chao (chess player)|Li Chao]], [[Wei Yi]] and [[Yu Yangyi]], while [[Wang Yue]] was replaced by [[Bu Xiangzhi]]. Other teams among the top seeds with average ratings above 2700 were [[Azerbaijan]] led by [[FIDE Grand Prix 2017]] winner [[Shakhriyar Mamedyarov]] and India strengthened with Vishwanathan Anand on the team.<ref name="line-ups">{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/chess-olympiad-lineups-announced-russian-streak-ends |title=Chess Olympiad Lineups Announced; Russian Streak Ends |author=Mike Klein |publisher=[[Chess.com]] |date=10 August 2018 }}</ref><ref name="teams-open"/>

==== Summary ====
[[File:JorgeCori12.jpg|thumb|upright|Jorge Cori of Peru won the individual gold medal in the Open event.]]
China won the gold medal in the open event for the second time after they have previously claimed the title in [[41st Chess Olympiad|2014]]. They scored eight wins, two draws and one loss for a total of 18 match points. The same result was achieved by the United States and Russia, who had inferior tie-breakers and came up on the podium by winning the silver and bronze medal, respectively.<ref name="fide-final">{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/11161-43rd-world-chess-olympiad-started-in-batumi.html |title=43rd Chess Olympiad: Double gold for China! |author= |publisher=FIDE |date=5 October 2018 }}</ref> United States were on track to defending the title and were the sole leader after eight rounds,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chess24.com/en/read/news/batumi-2018-8-usa-lead-as-caruana-beats-mamedyarov |title=Batumi 2018, 8: USA lead as Fabi beats Shak |author=Colin McGourty |publisher=Chess24.com |date=3 October 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx?lan=1&art=0&rd=8&flag=30 |title=43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Open - Ranking list after Round 8 |publisher=Chess-results.com }}</ref> but their loss to [[Poland]] in the ninth round set them back from winning the gold.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chess24.com/en/read/news/batumi-2018-9-nakamura-loses-as-poland-beat-usa |title=Batumi 2018, 9: Nakamura loses as Poland beat USA |author=Colin McGourty |publisher=Chess24.com |date=4 October 2018 }}</ref> Despite the slow start and implausible play, Russia finished the tournament with four consecutive victories to catch China and the United States, which was only enough for the third place because of the relatively weaker schedule.<ref name="chess.com-final">{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/chess-olympiad-china-wins-double-gold |title=Chess Olympiad: China Wins Double Gold |author=Mike Klein |publisher=Chess.com |date=5 October 2018 }}</ref> Poland were the biggest surprise of the tournament. They scored minimal match victories against the two top seeds, Russia in the fourth and the United States in the ninth round, and topped the table as sole leader after nine rounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx?lan=1&art=0&rd=9&flag=30 |title=43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Open - Ranking list after Round 9 |publisher=Chess-results.com }}</ref> Their loss to China in the penultimate and tie with India in the ultimate round, however, placed them on the fourth place overall with 17 match points, which was only equaled by [[England]] who came on the fifth place at the end.<ref name="chess.com-final"/> The only unbeaten team in the open event was [[Germany]] with five wins and six draws but this score earned them only the 13th place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chess24.com/en/read/news/quadruple-olympiad-gold-for-china-16-conclusions |title=Quadruple Olympiad gold for China: 16 conclusions |author=Colin McGourty |publisher=Chess24.com |date=6 October 2018 }}</ref> Teams that disappointed the most were Azerbaijan (the fourth seeds) who finished in 15th place, [[Israel]] in 39th place, and [[Netherlands]] in 40th place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx?lan=1&art=0&rd=11&flag=30 |title=43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Open - Ranking list after Round 8 |publisher=Chess-results.com }}</ref>

[[Jorge Cori]] of [[Peru]], playing on board three, was the best individual player in the open event by scoring 7½ out of 8 points (seven wins and one draw) with a rating performance of 2925.<ref name="best-player-open"/> The other gold medalists include Ding Liren of China on board one who scored 5½ out of 8 points with a rating performance of 2873, [[Nguyễn Ngọc Trường Sơn]] of [[Vietnam]] on board two who scored 8½ out of 10 points with a rating performance of 2804, [[Daniel Fridman]] of [[Germany]] who scored 7½ out of 9 points with a rating performance of 2814, and [[Anton Korobov]] of Ukraine as reserve player who scored 6½ out of 8 points with a rating performance of 2773.<ref name="best-open">{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx?lan=1&art=75&flag=30 |title=The best player per board: according Ratingperformance - Open |publisher=Chess-results.com}}</ref>

:{| class="wikitable"
|+ Open event<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx?lan=1&art=0&rd=11&flag=30 |title=Final Ranking after 11 Rounds - Open |publisher=Chess-results.com}}</ref>
! # !! Country !! Players !! Average<br/>rating !! MP !! dSB
|-
| style="background:gold;"|1 || '''{{CHN}}''' || '''[[Ding Liren|Ding]], [[Yu Yangyi|Yu]], [[Wei Yi|Wei]], [[Bu Xiangzhi|Bu]], [[Li Chao (chess player)|Li]]''' || '''2756''' || '''18''' || '''372.5'''
|-
| style="background:silver;"|2 || {{USA}} || [[Fabiano Caruana|Caruana]], [[Wesley So|So]], [[Hikaru Nakamura|Nakamura]], [[Sam Shankland|Shankland]], [[Ray Robson|Robson]] || 2772 || 18 || 360.5
|-
| style="background:#c96;"|3 || {{RUS}} || [[Sergey Karjakin|Karjakin]], [[Ian Nepomniachtchi|Nepomniachtchi]], [[Vladimir Kramnik|Kramnik]], [[Nikita Vitiugov|Vitiugov]], [[Dmitry Jakovenko|Jakovenko]] || 2764 || 18 || 354.5
|-
| 4 || {{POL}} || [[Jan-Krzysztof Duda|Duda]], [[Radoslaw Wojtaszek|Wojtaszek]], [[Kacper Piorun|Piorun]], [[Jacek Tomczak (chess player)|Tomczak]], [[Kamil Dragun|Dragun]] || 2673 || 17 || 390.0
|-
| 5 || {{ENG}} || [[Michael Adams (chess player)|Adams]], [[Luke McShane|McShane]], [[David Howell (chess player)|Howell]], [[Gawain Jones|Jones]], [[Nicholas Pert|Pert]] || 2688 || 17 || 340.0
|-
| 6 || {{IND}} || [[Vishwanathan Anand|Anand]], [[Pentala Harikrishna|Harikrishna]], [[Vidit Santosh Gujrathi|Gujrathi]], [[Baskaran Adhiban|Adhiban]], [[Krishnan Sasikiran|Sasikiran]] || 2724 || 16 || 388.0
|-
| 7 || {{VIE}} || [[Lê Quang Liêm|Liêm]], [[Nguyễn Ngọc Trường Sơn|Sơn]], [[Trần Tuấn Minh|Minh]], [[Nguyễn Ánh Khoi|Khoi]], [[Đào Thiên Hải|Hải]] || 2576 || 16 || 379.5
|-
| 8 || {{ARM}} || [[Levon Aronian|Aronian]], [[Gabriel Sargissian|Sargissian]], [[Hrant Melkumyan|Melkumyan]], [[Robert Hovhannisyan|Hovhannisyan]], [[Haik M. Martirosyan|Martirosyan]] || 2688 || 16 || 371.0
|-
| 9 || {{FRA}} || [[Maxime Vachier-Lagrave|Vachier-Lagrave]], [[Étienne Bacrot|Bacrot]], [[Laurent Fressinet|Fressinet]], [[Romain Édouard|Édouard]], [[Christian Bauer|Bauer]] || 2688 || 16 || 366.0
|-
| 10 || {{UKR}} || [[Vassily Ivanchuk|Ivanchuk]], [[Pavel Eljanov|Eljanov]], [[Yuriy Kryvoruchko|Kryvoruchko]], [[Ruslan Ponomariov|Ponomariov]], [[Anton Korobov|Korobov]] || 2698 || 16 || 337.0
|}

;Notes
{{refbegin}}
*Average ratings calculated by chess-results.com based in September 2018 ratings.
{{refend}}

All board prizes were given out according to [[Performance rating (chess)|performance ratings]] for players who played at least eight games at the tournament. Jorge Cori on the third board had the best performance of all players in the tournament.<ref name="best-player-open"/> The winners of the gold medal on each board are listed in turn:<ref name="best-open"/>

* Board 1: {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Ding Liren]] 2873
* Board 2: {{flagicon|VIE}} [[Nguyễn Ngọc Trường Sơn]] 2804
* '''Board 3: {{flagicon|PER}} [[Jorge Cori]] 2926'''
* Board 4: {{flagicon|GER}} [[Daniel Fridman]] 2814
* Reserve: {{flagicon|UKR}} [[Anton Korobov]] 2773

=== Women's event ===
{{main|Women's event at the 43rd Chess Olympiad}}
The Women's event was contested by a record number of 151 teams, representing 146 nations.<ref name="teams-women"/> Georgia, as host nation, fielded three teams, whilst the International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) and the International Chess Committee of the Deaf (ICCD) each provided one team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/en/team# |title=Teams – Women |publisher=official website |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

The women's section featured most of the top players according to the FIDE rating list published in September 2018 with the highest rated female player [[Hou Yifan]] and the former Women's World Champion [[Tan Zhongyi]] not playing for China.<ref name="line-ups"/> Former Women's World Champions [[Alexandra Kosteniuk]], [[Anna Ushenina]] and [[Mariya Muzychuk]] were part of their national teams, while [[Antoaneta Stefanova]] did not play because of the controversy with the Bulgarian Chess Federation.<ref name="usa favourites"/> Sweden's [[Pia Cramling]], who first played at the Chess Olympiads, was also not playing because of a row about captaincy.<ref name="line-ups"/>

The team with highest average pre-tournament rating of 2523 was Russia, who were playing with the same line-up from the Baku Chess Olympiad, including former Women's World Champion [[Alexandra Kosteniuk]], [[Alexandra Goryachkina]], [[Valentina Gunina]], [[Natalia Pogonina]] and [[Olga Girya]]. Second strongest team were [[Ukraine]] with [[Anna Muzychuk|Anna]] and [[Mariya Muzychuk]] playing on the top two boards, [[Anna Ushenina]], [[Natalia Zhukova]] and [[Iulija Osmak]]. The defending champions China without Hou Yifan and Tan Zhongyi were the third seeds.<ref name="line-ups"/><ref name="usa favourites"/> The first of the three Georgian teams were also among the favourites with the fourth highest pre-tournament rating. They were playing with [[Nana Dzagnidze]] on the top board, [[Lela Javakhishvili]], [[Nino Batsiashvili]], [[Bela Khotenashvili]] and [[Meri Arabidze]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368909.aspx?lan=1&art=8&flag=30&snr=4 |title=43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Women - Georgia |publisher=Chess-results.com}}</ref>

==== Summary ====
[[File:Fondation Neva Women's Grand Prix Geneva 11-05-2013 - Ju Wenjun during the press conference.jpg|thumb|upright|Women's World Chess Champion [[Ju Wenjun]] of China was the best individual player in the Women's event.]]
China successfully defended the gold medal won in [[Women's event at the 42nd Chess Olympiad|2016]] and claimed their sixth title overall. The team scored seven wins and four draws for a total of 18 match points. This exact achievement was matched only by Ukraine, who had inferior tie-breaker and won the silver medal. These two teams were also the only unbeaten in the Women's event. Host nation Georgia finished solely on the third place and won the bronze medal with seven wins, three draws and one loss for a total of 17 match points.<ref name="fide-final"/><ref name="results-final"/> Russia, who were top seeds before the tournament, finished immediately after the podium on the fourth place after suffering losses to [[Uzbekistan]] in the second and [[Armenia]] in the sixth round, and being only on the 24th place after seven rounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368909.aspx?lan=1&art=0&rd=6&flag=30 |title=43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Women - Ranking list after Round 6 |publisher=Chess-results.com }}</ref> They scored 16 match points and had the highest tie-breaker among the nine teams with the same number of points. Armenia, who were the sole leader after seven rounds, occupied the seventh place at the end. Georgia's second team did also earn spot in the top ten, finishing on the ninth place overall. Teams that disappointed include Poland who finished in 16th place and Germany who finished in 28th place.<ref name="chess.com-final"/>

Women's World Chess Champion [[Ju Wenjun]] of China, playing on board one, was the best individual player in the Women's event by scoring 7 out of 9 (five wins and four draws) with a rating performance of 2661.<ref name="best-player-women"/> On the other boards, the gold medals were won by Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine on board two with 8 out of 10 and a rating performance of 2616, [[Khanim Balajayeva]] of Azerbaijan on board three who scored 7 out of 9 with a rating performance of 2522, [[Marina Brunello]] of [[Italy]] on board four with 8½ out of 10 and a rating performance of 2505, and [[Boshra Alshaebyi]] of [[Jordan]] as a reserve player with 8 out of 8 and a rating performance of 2568.<ref name="best-women">{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368909.aspx?lan=1&art=75&flag=30 |title=The best player per board: according Ratingperformance - Women |publisher=Chess-results.com}}</ref>

:{| class="wikitable"
|+ Women's event<ref name="results-final">{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368909.aspx?lan=1&art=0&flag=30 |title=Final Ranking after 11 Rounds - Women |publisher=Chess-results.com}}</ref>
! # !! Country !! Players !! Average<br/>rating !! MP !! dSB
|-
| style="background:gold;"|1 || '''{{CHN}}''' || '''[[Ju Wenjun|Ju]], [[Shen Yang (chess player)|Shen]], [[Huang Qian|Huang]], [[Lei Tingjie|Lei]], [[Zhai Mo|Zhai]]''' || '''2485''' || '''18''' || '''407.0'''
|-
| style="background:silver;"|2 || {{UKR}} || [[Anna Muzychuk|A. Muzychuk]], [[Mariya Muzychuk|M. Muzychuk]], [[Anna Ushenina|Ushenina]], [[Natalia Zhukova|Zhukova]], [[Iulija Osmak|Osmak]] || 2486 || 18 || 395.5
|-
| style="background:#c96;"|3 || {{GEO}} || [[Nana Dzagnidze|Dzagnidze]], [[Lela Javakhishvili|Javakhishvili]], [[Nino Batsiashvili|Batsiashvili]], [[Bela Khotenashvili|Khotenashvili]], [[Meri Arabidze|Arabidze]] || 2484 || 17 ||
|-
| 4 || {{RUS}} || [[Alexandra Kosteniuk|Kosteniuk]], [[Aleksandra Goryachkina|Goryachkina]], [[Valentina Gunina|Gunina]], [[Natalia Pogonina|Pogonina]], [[Olga Girya|Girya]] || 2523 || 16 || 379.5
|-
| 5 || {{HUN}} || [[Hoang Thanh Trang|Hoang]], [[Anita Gara|A. Gara]], [[Ticia Gara|T. Gara]], [[Nikoletta Lakos|Lakos]], [[Julianna Terbe|Terbe]] || 2344 || 16 || 372.0
|-
| 6 || {{ARM}} || [[Elina Danielian|Danielian]], [[Lilit Mkrtchian|Mkrtchian]], [[Anna M. Sargsyan|Sargsyan]], [[Maria Kursova|Kursova]], [[Siranush Ghukasyan|Ghukasyan]] || 2353 || 16 || 366.0
|-
| 7 || {{USA}} || [[Anna Zatonskih|Zatonskih]], [[Irina Krush|Krush]], [[Tatev Abrahamyan|Abrahamyan]], [[Sabina-Francesca Foisor|Foisor]], [[Jennifer Yu|Yu]] || 2382 || 16 || 359.5
|-
| 8 || {{IND}} || [[Humpy Koneru|Koneru]], [[Harika Dronavalli|Dronavalli]], [[Tania Sachdev|Sachdev]], [[Eesha Karavade|Karavade]], [[Padmini Rout|Rout]] || 2458 || 16 || 352.5
|-
| 9 || {{flagdeco|GEO}} [[Georgia (country)|Georgia-2]] || [[Salome Melia|Melia]], [[Inga Charkhalashvili|Charkhalashvili]], [[Sopio Gvetadze|Gvetadze]], [[Sopiko Khukhashvili|Khukhashvili]], [[Miranda Mikadze|Mikadze]] || 2334 || 16 || 351.5
|-
| 10 || {{AZE}} || [[Gunay Mammadzada|Mammadzada]], [[Zeinab Mamedyarova|Mamedyarova]], [[Khanim Balajayeva|Balajayeva]], [[Gulnar Mammadova|Mammadova]], [[Ulviyya Fataliyeva|Fataliyeva]] || 2369 || 16 || 347.5
|}

;Notes
{{refbegin}}
*Average ratings calculated by chess-results.com based in September 2016 ratings.
{{refend}}

All board prizes were given out according to [[Performance rating (chess)|performance ratings]] for players who have played at least eight games at the tournament. Ju Wenjun on the first board had the best performance of all players in the tournament.<ref name="best-player-women"/> The winners of the gold medal on each board are listed in turn:<ref name="best-women"/>

* '''Board 1: {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Ju Wenjun]] 2661'''
* Board 2: {{flagicon|UKR}} [[Mariya Muzychuk]] 2616
* Board 3: {{flagicon|AZE}} [[Khanim Balajayeva]] 2522
* Board 4: {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Marina Brunello]] 2505
* Reserve: {{flagicon|JOR}} [[Boshra Alshaebyi]] 2568

=== Gaprindashvili Trophy ===
The [[Nona Gaprindashvili]] Trophy, created by FIDE in 1997 and named after the former women's World Champion (1961–78), was awarded to China, having scored the highest total number of match points in the open and women's events combined.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx?lan=1&art=57&flag=30 |title=Gaprindashvili cup (Best federation = sum (open + women)) |publisher=Chess-results.com }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-			
! #
! Team
! MP
! dSB
|-
| style="background:gold;"| '''1'''
| '''{{CHN}}'''
| '''36'''
|
|-
| style="background:silver;"| 2
| {{RUS}}
| 34
| 734.0
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3
| {{UKR}}
| 34
| 732.5
|}

== FIDE Congress ==
The 89th FIDE Congress is taking place during the Olympiad, specifically from 26 September to 14 October; the General Assembly was held held from 3 to 5 October 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/index.php?option=com_fidecalendar&view=fcalview&aid=1204 |title=89th FIDE Congress – 89th FIDE Congress |publisher=FIDE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/11112-89th-fide-congress-general-assembly-agenda-and-annexes.html |title=89th FIDE Congress: General Assembly Agenda and Annexes |publisher=FIDE}}</ref>

=== FIDE presidential election ===
The FIDE presidential election took place on 3 October 2018. Long-serving FIDE President [[Kirsan Ilyumzhinov]] announced his withdrawal from the presidency earlier that year following a controversy regarding the sanctions imposed by the [[United States Department of the Treasury]] for his alleged support to the Syrian government in the [[Syrian Civil War]].<ref name="chess.com-sanctions">{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/u-s-sanctions-kirsan-ilyumzhinov-for-supporting-syrian-government-3321 |title=U.S. Sanctions Kirsan Ilyumzhinov For Supporting Syrian Government |author=Peter Doggers |publisher=Chess.com |date=26 November 2015 }}</ref> Three candidates entered the presidential run: FIDE Deputy President George Makropoulos of Greece (nominated by 64 national federations), politician and economist [[Arkady Dvorkovich]] of Russia (nominated by 13 national federations), and former World Chess Champion challenger [[Nigel Short]] of England (nominated by 6 national federations).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-presidential-race-2018-tickets |title=FIDE presidential race is all set |publisher=ChessBase |date=4 July 2018}}</ref> On the election day, Short announced his withdrawal from the run in favour of Dvorkovich's nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/breaking-dvorkovich-elected-fide-president |title=Dvorkovich Elected FIDE President |author=Peter Doggers |publisher=Chess.com |date=3 October 2018}}</ref> Dvorkovich ultimately won the election against Makropoulos with 103 to 78 votes.<ref name="bbc-president"/>

== Marketing ==
=== Mascot ===
The mascot of the 43rd Chess Olympiad was a green [[turtle]] with a chessboard depicted on its shell that was wearing glasses and a tie with the colours from the tournament's official logo. It was publicly introduced during the celebration of the country's centenary [[Independence Day (Georgia)|Independence Day]] held in [[Tbilisi]] on 26 May 2018 by the Minister of Culture and Sports [[Mikheil Giorgadze]] together with the Director of the Organising Committee [[Zurab Azmaiparashvili]] and Georgian grandmaster Giorgi Giorgadze. On the [[Rustaveli Avenue]], an election of the mascot's name also took place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/en/news/independence-day-georgia-and-43rd-chess-olympiad-mascot |title=Independence Day of Georgia and the 43rd Chess Olympiad mascot |publisher=Batumi Chess Olympiad Organising Committee |date=26 May 2018}}</ref>

=== Postage stamp ===
In May 2018, it was announced that the [[Cabinet of Georgia]] has approved a postage stamp commemorating the 43rd Chess Olympiad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/en/news/post-mark-batumi2018 |title=The Postage Stamp of Batumi2018 |publisher=oficial website |date=17 May 2018}}</ref>

=== Sponsorship ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Sponsors
|-
|
{{col-start|width=100%}}
{{col-2}}
* [[SOCAR]]
* [[Turkish Airlines]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/storage/app/media/uploaded-files/Batumi_Chess_Olympiad_Invitation_Letter_23.04.2018%20updated%2008.09.2018.pdf |title=43rd CHess Olympiad Batumi - Invitation |publisher=Batumi Chess Olympiad Organising Committee |page=7 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>
* [[Georgian Public Broadcasting]]
* [[Hytera]]
* Gurieli<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/en/news/batumi-2018-tea-gurieli-is-the-olympiads-sponsor |title=Batumi 2018: Tea “Gurieli” is the Olympiad’s Sponsor |date=20 July 2018}}</ref>
* Aqua Geo<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batumi2018.fide.com/en/news/batumi-2018-water-sno-will-be-the-sponsor-of-the-olympiad |title=Batumi 2018: “Water Sno” will be the sponsor of the Olympiad! |date=17 August 2018}}</ref>
{{col-end}}
|}

== Concerns and controversies ==
=== Anti-cheating measures ===
{{see also|Cheating in chess}}
In September 2018, FIDE announced the anti-cheating measures and procedures of the 43rd Chess Olympiad in accordance with the Abu Dhabi FIDE Executive Board in 2015 and the Moscow FIDE Presidential Board in 2016, as well as after clarifications of the FIDE WCOC Commission and FIDE Anti cheating Committee that were applied at the Baku Chess Olympiad. According to these measures, the players and captains had to walk through [[X-ray]] frames at the entrance of the playing hall and undergo an inspection of their bags and belongings by the security staff. The carrying of [[mobile phone]]s, [[watch]]es, and [[pen]]s was not allowed inside the playing venue and players were required to release them in storage areas. Once they get them back, they were not allowed to return to the playing area. Players and captains must also show up at the entrance at least 30 minutes before the start of the round, in order to avoid long queues; those arriving later were forfeited. Fast random checks were performed by anti-cheating arbiters on approximately 20 to 30 players during each round. The arbiters were using non-linear scanners and detectors, whereas each check takes 5 to 10 seconds. The checks were not done during the first time control and close to the end of the game. If any indication on cheating was found, thorough check would have followed. Players who refuse to make the check will be sanctioned and forfeited. Similar checks were performed immediately after the end of the games in each round on approximately 10 to 20 players with the application of the same procedure. Priority for checking have players who have won their games. Special attention was also given to the matches played on the top tables with about 10 players thoroughly checked in each round. The selection of players who will be checked in each round was made by the Senior Arbiter for anti-cheating in cooperation with the Chief Arbiter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/11140-2018-batumi-chess-olympiad-anti-cheating-measures-and-procedures.html |title=2018 Batumi Chess Olympiad: Anti cheating Measures and Procedures |publisher=FIDE |date=5 September 2018}}</ref>

=== Bulgarian Chess Federation suspension ===
On 10 September 2016, the [[European Chess Union]] held its General Assembly during the [[42nd Chess Olympiad]] in [[Baku]], where it voted 37-11 to suspend the [[Bulgarian Chess Federation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/9811-87th-fide-congress-in-baku.html |title=87th FIDE Congress in Baku |publisher=FIDE |date=10 September 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europechess.org/ecu-general-assembly-2016-main-decisions-and-information/ |title=ECU General Assembly 2016 main decisions and information |publisher=European Chess Union |date=12 September 2016}}</ref> Later the same month, FIDE published a timeline of facts based on a number of complaints and allegations that had been brought to its Ethics Commission and General Assembly at the 88th FIDE Congress that took place at the Baku Chess Olympiad concerning the Bulgarian Chess Federation. The timeline, among other things, included allegations of financial and administrative irregularities during the organisation of the 2013 European Youth Chess Championship in [[Budva]], establishment of an imposter company in [[Delaware]], the unlawful ban of [[Kiril Georgiev]], Metodi Stoinev and Simeon Stoichkov, non-compliance of the Bulgarian Chess Federation with the decisions made by the FIDE Ethics Commission and FIDE General Assembly in Baku, and refusal of the Bulgarian Chess Federation to cooperate with the European Chess Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/9844-complaints-and-decisions-relating-to-bulgarian-chess-federation.html |title=Complaints and Decisions relating to Bulgarian Chess Federation |publisher=FIDE |date=29 September 2016}}</ref> On 30 September 2016, the Bulgarian Chess Federation filed an appeal to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] against its suspension. The court dismissed the appeal at a hearing in [[Lausanne]] on 28 April 2017 following an exchange of written submissions from both sides.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10249-cas-award-ecu-vs-bulgarian-chess-federation.html |title=CAS Award - ECU vs Bulgarian Chess Federation |publisher=FIDE |date=12 June 2017}}</ref>

In the absence of resolution, Bulgaria was not allowed to send teams to the Batumi Chess Olympiad because its federation was not recognised by FIDE, which left former FIDE World Chess Champion [[Veselin Topalov]] and former Women's World Chess Champion [[Antoaneta Stefanova]] out of the tournament.<ref name="usa favourites"/> On the other hand, some Bulgarian players switched to other federations and were allowed to participate at the event under different flags, most notably [[Ivan Cheparinov]] to Georgia, Kiril Georgiev to [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]] (a country that he had previously represented at the [[35th Chess Olympiad]] in 2002), and Boris Chatalbashev to [[Denmark]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ratings.fide.com/fedchange.phtml?year=2018 |title=Transfers in 2018 |publisher=FIDE}}</ref>

=== FIDE presidential transition ===
In November 2015, the United States sanctioned FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov for being part of a group "providing support to the government of Syria, including for facilitating Syrian government oil purchases from [[ISIL]]". [[United States Department of the Treasury]] accused Ilyumzhinov for materially assisting and acting for the Syrian government and the [[Central Bank of Syria]], although no details were revealed about the nature of his involvement. The press release has also linked FIDE's head to the murder of Russian journalist [[Larisa Yudina]] in 1999, who was investigating an offshore business registration mechanism in [[Kalmykia]] tied to Ilyumzhinov and whose murderer was allegedly Ilyumzhinov's adviser while he was serving as [[President of Kalmykia]]. The sanctions came shortly before Ilyumzhinov's trip to the United States, where he was supposed to determine which city would host the [[World Chess Championship 2016]]. They were also not the first case the for sanctioning Russian nationals related to chess on political grounds by the United States and were preceded by the sanctions against Russian businessman against [[Gennady Timchenko]] in April 2014 because of the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Crimean crisis]].<ref name="chess.com-sanctions"/>

On 27 March 2017, FIDE's official website announced that Ilyumzhinov had allegedly resigned from his presidency on a meeting of FIDE Presidential Board that took place in [[Athens]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10090-kirsan-ilyumzhinov-announced-his-resignation-as-fide-president.html |title=Kirsan Ilyumzhinov announced his resignation as FIDE President |author= |publisher=FIDE |date=27 March 2017 }}</ref> Later he went on to publicly deny his resignation and told the Russian news agency [[TASS]] that FIDE officials wanted to oust him and that it was "the hand of the Americans".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.com/politics/937765 |title=FIDE president denies media reports on his resignation |author= |publisher=[[TASS]] |date=27 March 2017 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chess-ilyumzhinov-resignation/world-chess-body-chief-alleges-plot-to-oust-him-tass-idUSKBN16Y1H0 |title=World chess body chief alleges plot to oust him: TASS |author=Christian Lowe |author2=Mark Heinrich |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=27 March 2017 }}</ref> FIDE Executive Director Nigel Freeman the next day responded to Ilyumzhinov's statements that the information was untrue by saying that he actually threatened to resign and mentioned three times that he resigned at the end of the meeting. At a joint press conference together with the president of [[Russian Chess Federation]] [[Andrey Filatov]] at Central Chess Club in [[Moscow]], Ilyumzhinov stated that he would remain FIDE President until the next general assembly. He also appealed to the chess federations and executive director Nigel Freeman to cancel the board meeting that he described as a waste of money. Filatov supported Ilyumzhinov and mentioned that he could not be removed from his presidential role against his will and the only way to do it is by the FIDE Congress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ruchess.ru/news/all/kirsan_ilyumzhinov_ya_ne_planiruyu_ukhodit_do_vyborov_v_2018_godu/ |title=Кирсан Илюмжинов: Я не планирую уходить до выборов в 2018 году |author= |publisher=[[Russian Chess Federation]] |date=30 March 2017 |language=Russian }}</ref> On 29 March, an open letter from FIDE Deputy President George Makropoulos was published on FIDE's official website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10098-letter-of-mr-makropoulos-to-mr-ilyumzhinov.html |title=Letter of Mr. Makropoulos to Mr. Ilyumzhinov |author= |publisher=FIDE |date=29 March 2017}}</ref> Makropoulos expressed support to his colleagues who had described Ilyumzhinov as verbally resigning and mentioned that no-one had asked him to resign. He also criticised his statements at the press conference and referred to "the recorded tape minutes of the meeting" as evidence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chess24.com/en/read/news/ilyumzhinov-resigns-or-does-he |title=Ilyumzhinov resigns… or does he? (updated) |author=Colin McGourty |publisher=Chess24.com |date=27 March 2017 }}</ref>

In February 2018, FIDE announced that their bank accounts were closed by the Swiss bank [[UBS]] as a result of the sanctions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/u-s-sanctions-kirsan-ilyumzhinov-for-supporting-syrian-government-3321 |title=U.S. Sanctions Kirsan Ilyumzhinov For Supporting Syrian Government |author=Peter Doggers |publisher=Chess.com |date=26 November 2015 }}</ref> The letter published by FIDE Treasurer Adrian M. Siegel reported that the white-money strategy in [[Switzerland]] does not allow to do business with people on the sanction list of the United States Department of the Treasury. Furthermore, it was revealed that the Presidential Board unanimously decided to take measures on transferring mitigate the risk by transfering Ilyumzhinov's duties to FIDE Deputy President Makropoulos in December 2015. The letter also reported that Ilyumzhinov had informed FIDE on multiple occasions that he would be removed from the sanction list in near future.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10684-letter-from-fide-treasurer-regarding-fide-bank-account.html |title=Letter from FIDE Treasurer regarding FIDE Bank Account  |author= |publisher=FIDE |date=13 February 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-bank-account-closed |title=FIDE's bank account closed |author=Macauley Peterson |publisher=ChessBase |date=14 February 2018 }}</ref>

On 29 June 2018, FIDE's president Ilyumzhinov announced that he would withraw his candidacy for the presidential election during the Batumi Chess Olympiad and expressed support for Russia's new candidate [[Arkady Dvorkovich]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/ilyumzhinov-withdraws-from-fide-presidential-elections |title=Ilyumzhinov Withdraws From FIDE Presidential Elections |author=Peter Doggers |publisher=Chess.com |date=29 June 2018 }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Chess}}
* [[Chess World Cup 2017]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://batumi2018.fide.com/en}}
* Results:
** [http://chess-results.com/tnr368908.aspx Open event]
** [http://chess-results.com/tnr368909.aspx?lan=1&art=0&flag=30 Women's event]

{{S-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[42nd Chess Olympiad]]<br/>{{small|[[Baku]], [[Azerbaijan]]}} }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chess Olympiad]] <br/>''43rd Olympiad'' (2018) |years=[[Batumi]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[44th Chess Olympiad]]<br/>{{small|[[Khanty-Mansiysk]], [[Russia]]}} }}
{{S-end}}

{{Chess Olympiads}}

[[Category:43rd Chess Olympiad| ]]
[[Category:Chess Olympiads]]
[[Category:Chess in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:2018 in Georgian sport]]
[[Category:2018 in chess]]
[[Category:Sport in Batumi]]
[[Category:International sports competitions hosted by Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:August 2018 sports events in Europe]]
[[Category:September 2018 sports events in Europe]]