The national men's and women's chess squads made a good start at the Olympiad held in the Russian town of Khanty-Mansiysk, Info-Prim Neo reports. Both of the teams beat Panama's squads in the first round. The men's team consisting of Viorel Bologan, Vladimir Hamitsevich, Dumitru Svetushkin, and Vasile Sanduleac won by 3.5-0.5. The women's squad composed of Svetlana Petrenko, Elena Partac, Carolina Smochina, and Diana Baciu defeated their opponents 4-0. In the second round on September 22, the men's squad plays Germany, while the women's team – Columbia. The 39th world Olympiad brought together 1,380 chess players from over 100 countries. The competition closes on October 4.