23rd Chess Olympiad
The 23rd Chess Olympiad (Spanish: La 23a Olimpíada de ajedrez), organized by FIDE and comprising an open[1] and a women's tournament, as well as several other events designed to promote the game of chess, took place between October 25 and November 12, 1978, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

After the boycott two years earlier, the Eastern Bloc countries were back, including the Soviet team who, as usual, were huge favourites——but in the end they had to settle for the silver medal. Hungary, led by Lajos Portisch, caused quite an upset by taking the gold medals by a full point. The United States took the bronze.
This tournament also witnessed the debut of China, which placed 20th with six untitled players, and later became a chess power and won the Chess Olympiad in 2014 and 2018.
Open event
    
Sixty-five nations played a 14-round Swiss system tournament. To make for an even number of teams, the Argentine hosts also fielded a "B" team. In the event of a draw, the tie-break was decided first by using the Buchholz system, then by match points.
Open event # Country Players Average 
ratingPoints Buchholz 1 
 HungaryPortisch, Ribli, Sax, Adorján, Csom, Vadász 2570 37 2 
 Soviet UnionSpassky, Petrosian, Polugaevsky, Gulko, Romanishin, Vaganian 2620 36 3 
 United StatesKavalek, Browne, Lein, Byrne, Tarjan, Lombardy 2553 35 4 
 West GermanyHübner, Unzicker, Pfleger, Darga, Hecht, Borik 2540 33 5 
 IsraelDzindzichashvili, Liberzon, Kagan, Bleiman, Birnboim, Gruenfeld 2509 32½ 442.5 6 
 RomaniaGheorghiu, Ciocâltea, Ghițescu, Suba, Ghindǎ, Troianescu 2468 32½ 422.5 7 
 DenmarkHamann, Jakobsen, Kristiansen, Fedder, Høi, Blom 2416 32 440.5 8 
 PolandSchmidt, Kuligowski, Sznapik, Adamski, Pytel, Filipowicz 2449 32 437.0 9 
 SpainDíez del Corral, Pomar, Calvo, Bellón López, Sanz Alonso, Rivas Pastor 2429 32 430.5 10 
  SwitzerlandKorchnoi, Hug, Lombard, Wirthensohn, Huss, Bhend 2484 32 426.0 11 
 CanadaHébert, Biyiasas, Day, Piasetski, Nickoloff, Coudari 2388 32 422.5 12 
 EnglandMiles, Stean, Keene, Hartston, Mestel, Nunn 2508 31½ 452.5 13 
 BulgariaRadulov, Ermenkov, Tringov, Padevsky, Spasov, Inkiov 2486 31½ 437.0 14 
 NetherlandsTimman, Sosonko, Donner, Ree, Ligterink, Langeweg 2538 31½ 432.5 15 
 YugoslaviaGligorić, Ljubojević, Matanović, Ivkov, Velimirović, Parma 2558 31 438.0 16 
 SwedenAndersson, Ornstein, Schneider, Kaiszauri, Schüssler, Wedberg 2453 31 437.5 17 
 ArgentinaEmma, Bronstein, Hase, Cámpora, Szmetan, Grinberg 2409 31 418.0 18 
 CubaGarcía González, Hernández, Rodríguez Céspedes, Vilela de Acuña, García Martínez, Lebredo Zarragoitia 2486 30½ 437.0 19 
 AustriaRobatsch, Hölzl, Stoppel, Wittmann, Janetschek, Dür 2389 30½ 417.0 20 
 ChinaQi Jingxuan, Chen De, Liu Wenzhe, Liang Jinrong, Chang Tung Lo, Zhang Weida 2273 30½ 413.5 21 
 MexicoSisniega, Campos López, Villarreal, Aldrete, Escondrillas, Navarro 2361 30½ 393.5 22 
 FinlandWesterinen, Rantanen, Hurme, Saren, Raaste, Kivipelto 2389 30 421.0 23 
 ColombiaGarcía, Gutierrez, Rodríguez, Zapata, de Greiff, Agudelo 2359 30 400.5 24 
 PhilippinesTorre E., Rodríguez, Mascariñas, Bordonada, Torre V., de Guzman 2405 29½ 407.0 25 
 New ZealandSarapu, Chandler, Small, Stuart, Anderson, Weir 2270 29½ 396.0 26 
 IndonesiaSuradiradja, Ardiansyah, Bachtiar, Wotulo, Sampouw, Kileng 2346 29½ 394.0 27 
 BrazilTrois, van Riemsdijk, Segal, Braga, Másculo, Carvalho 2355 29½ 393.5 28 
 IcelandÓlafsson F., Sigurjónsson, Ólafsson H., Pétursson, Árnason, Ásmundsson 2480 29 423.0 29 
 ChileDonoso Velasco, Frias Pablaza, Morovic, Silva Sánchez, Scholz Solis, Cifuentes Parada 2395 29 417.0 30 
 AustraliaJamieson, Fuller, Shaw, Rogers, Woodhams, Viner 2399 29 408.0 31 
 NorwayWibe, Helmers, Øgaard, Hoen, Johannessen, Heiberg 2409 29 398.0 - 
 Argentina "B"Giardelli, Seidler, Barbero, Braga, Bernat, Monier 2329 28½ 413.0 32 
 ParaguayFranco Ocampos, Gamarra Cáceres, Riego Prieto, Bogda, Ferreira, Ingolotti 2278 28½ 411.5 33 
 ScotlandPritchett, Levy, Jamieson, Upton, Giulian, Reid 2309 28 404.5 34 
 VenezuelaOstos, Fernández, Diaz, Gamboa, Dounia, González 2253 28 401.5 35 
 SyriaArafeh, Hakki, Catalan, Khatib, Kassen M., Khattab 2200 28 373.0 36 
 FranceHaïk, Giffard, Preissmann, Roos, Sellos, Letzelter 2358 27½ 425.0 37 
 UruguayEstrada Degrandi, Dienavorian Lacherian, Silva Nazzari, Bademian Orchanian, Lamas Baliero, Pazdur González 2270 27½ 381.5 38 
 Dominican RepublicGonzáles, Delgado, Álvarez, Mateo, Pérez Nivar, Liao Yuan Eu 2229 27½ 380.5 39 
 Sri LankaWeeramantry, Aturupane D. H. C., Goonetilleke, Parakrama 2200 27½ 373.5 40 
 Hong KongJhunjhnuwala K., Valdellon, Kan Wai Shui, Jhunjhnuwala R., Schepel, Jhunjhnuwala N. 2235 27½ 367.0 41 
 WalesCooper, Williams, Hutchings, Jones, Trevelyan, Tyrrell 2324 27 403.5 42 
 PeruRodríguez Vargas, González Bernal, Vásquez Horna, Vásquez, Pelaez Contti, Robbiano Taboada 2271 27 399.5 43 
 GuyanaBroomes M., Broomes G., Wharton, Warsali, Brooms 2200 27 369.0 44 
 JapanTakemoto, Matsumoto, Sakurai, Ozaki, Oda, Tanuma 2200 27 359.0 45 
 LuxembourgStull, Schammo, Milbers, Kirsch, Welz, Philippe 2219 27 353.0 46 
 Faroe IslandsJacobsen, Apol, Petersen, Ziska, Midjord, Durhuus 2200 27 346.0 47 
 BelgiumSchumacher, Wostyn, Mollekens, Van Herck, Larsen, De Hert 2223 26½ 374.5 48 
 GuatemalaDe León, Batres, Canda, Grajeda, Garrido, Cruz Lorenzana 2200 26½ 358.0 49 
 MoroccoChorfi, Al-Hamido, Arbouche, El-Amri, Khatib S., Bakali 2200 26½ 356.0 50 
 TunisiaBouaziz, Belkadi, Tabbane, Kchouk, Hmadi, Zargouni 2279 26 390.0 51 
 EcuadorVerduga, Pazos, Salvador, Freile, Frank, Márquez 2266 26 381.5 52 
 BoliviaChávez Chávez, Zarco Castillo, Mendivil, Alborta, Orestes, Palacios Alvarez 2213 26 368.0 53 
 Trinidad and TobagoCecil Lee, Payne, Courtney Lee, Duchesne, Lum Tong, Chin Fong 2200 26 356.5 54 
 JordanArafat, Shoumali, Al-Mallah, Bakr, Haddad, Saqqa 2200 26 327.5 55 
 JamaicaWong S., Grant, Wong A., Powell 2200 25½ 56 
 Puerto RicoMoraza Choisme, Freyre, Torres, Ochoa, Martínez Buitrago, Ferrao 2214 25 373.0 57 
 MalaysiaTan Bian Huat, Woo Beng Keong, Hon Kah Seng, Liew Chee Meng, Foo Lum Choon, How 2200 25 365.5 58 
 LibyaShabsh Abdulatif, El-Ageli, Tawengi, Isgeta, Talha, Aburziza M. 2200 23½ 321.0 59 
 MauritaniaBouasria, Radhy Sol, El-Mokhtar, Louly, Maouloud 2200 23½ 319.5 60 
 AndorraClua Ballague, Pantebre Martínez, Gómez Abad, Pantebre Martínez, Fité Barris, Vañó 2200 22½ 61 
 United States Virgin IslandsVan Tilbury, Hoyt, Grumer, Chiu Yum San, Hanno, John Turner 2200 22 62 
 BermudaYerbury, Radford, Harris, Chudleigh, Dill, Lattyak 2200 20½ 63 
 ZaireDe Vries, Ciezkowski, Merali, Biringanine 2200 16 64 
 United Arab EmiratesHassan, Saleh, Abdulghafour, Abdul Rahman, Al-Kaitoob, Zainal 2200 12½ 328.5 65 
 British Virgin IslandsHook, Georges, Pickering, Campbell, Downing 2213 12½ 327.5 
Team standing
    
The following ratings were used to determine the placement (#).
- BP (sum of board points)
 - TP (sum of team points)
 
# Team Code BP TP + = - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 
 HungaryHUN 37 23 10 3 1 SCO 
3½POL 
3NED 
3ESP 
2½USA 
2URS 
1½DEN 
2ENG 
3BUL 
2½GER 
2ISL 
3SWE 
3½ISR 
2½YUG 
32 
 Soviet UnionURS 36 23 10 3 1 WLS 
3ARG2 
3½ROM 
3CUB 
3ENG 
2HUN 
2½BUL 
2½USA 
3GER 
1½ISR 
2SWE 
2POL 
2½CAN 
3NED 
2½3 
 United StatesUSA 35 23 10 3 1 PAR 
3AUT 
2½CAN 
3AUS 
3HUN 
2ENG 
2½YUG 
2½URS 
1DEN 
4CUB 
2½GER 
2½ISR 
2½POL 
2SUI 
24 
 West GermanyGER 33 17 6 5 3 NZL 
4CHI 
2½CUB 
1FIN 
3DEN 
1½SWE 
2WLS 
4ARG 
3URS 
2½HUN 
2USA 
1½YUG 
2ENG 
2ISR 
25 
 IsraelISR 32½ 18 7 4 3 ECU 
4BRA 
2½ESP 
1CAN 
2½PHI 
2FRA 
2½ROM 
2FIN 
3POL 
2½URS 
2CUB 
3½USA 
1½HUN 
1½GER 
26 
 RomaniaROM 32½ 16 6 4 4 PUR 
4CAN 
1½URS 
1INA 
1½CHN 
2½TUN 
4ISR 
2BUL 
2FRA 
2ARG2 
3YUG 
1½ISL 
3ESP 
2ENG 
2½7 
 DenmarkDEN 32 20 8 4 2 JPN 
3MEX 
2½COL 
3YUG 
2GER 
2½CAN 
3½HUN 
2CUB 
2USA 
0SUI 
2½ENG 
1CHI 
3½BUL 
2AUT 
2½8 
 PolandPOL 32 17 7 3 4 MAS 
3½HUN 
1HKG 
2½BRA 
4SWE 
2½PHI 
2ENG 
2½YUG 
1½ISR 
1½FRA 
3ESP 
2½URS 
1½USA 
2CAN 
29 
 SpainESP 32 15 6 3 5 GUA 
4VEN 
2½ISR 
3HUN 
1½BUL 
1½FIN 
2FRA 
1½AUS 
3½SUI 
1½AUT 
3POL 
1½CUB 
2ROM 
2SWE 
2½10 
  SwitzerlandSUI 32 19 8 3 3 BEL 
3FRA 
1½MEX 
2½CHN 
2½CHI 
3½YUG 
1BRA 
2½SWE 
2ESP 
2½DEN 
1½PHI 
3ENG 
2AUT 
2½USA 
211 
 CanadaCAN 32 16 7 2 5 LBA 
4ROM 
2½USA 
1ISR 
1½SCO 
3½DEN 
½DOM 
3½CHI 
2ENG 
1PER 
3PAR 
2½FRA 
4URS 
1POL 
212 
 EnglandENG 31½ 15 6 3 5 DOM 
4COL 
3½ARG 
2½BUL 
2½URS 
2USA 
1½POL 
1½HUN 
1CAN 
3SWE 
1½DEN 
3SUI 
2GER 
2ROM 
1½13 
 BulgariaBUL 31½ 16 7 2 5 LUX 
4INA 
3FRA 
2½ENG 
1½ESP 
2½CUB 
3URS 
1½ROM 
2HUN 
1½ISL 
1ARG 
3NED 
1½DEN 
2FIN 
2½14 
 NetherlandsNED 31½ 17 7 3 4 URU 
4FIN 
3HUN 
1ARG 
2½CUB 
1COL 
2SWE 
1½CHN 
2PAR 
2½BRA 
3ARG2 
3BUL 
2½YUG 
2URS 
1½15 
 YugoslaviaYUG 31 18 7 4 3 TUN 
3½AUS 
2½NOR 
2½DEN 
2FRA 
2SUI 
3USA 
1½POL 
2½CUB 
1½ARG 
2½ROM 
2½GER 
2NED 
2HUN 
116 
 SwedenSWE 31 17 7 3 4 HKG 
3NOR 
1½BEL 
3½CHI 
2½POL 
1½GER 
2NED 
2½SUI 
2CHN 
3½ENG 
2½URS 
2HUN 
½FIN 
2½ESP 
1½17 
 ArgentinaARG 31 16 8 0 6 BOL 
3CHN 
3½ENG 
1½NED 
1½COL 
2½INA 
3ISL 
2½GER 
1PER 
3YUG 
1½BUL 
1AUT 
1NOR 
2½VEN 
3½18 
 CubaCUB 30½ 17 7 3 4 PER 
2½MAR 
4GER 
3URS 
1NED 
3BUL 
1PHI 
3DEN 
2YUG 
2½USA 
1½ISR 
½ESP 
2ISL 
2½CHN 
219 
 AustriaAUT 30½ 15 7 1 6 GUY 
2½USA 
1½SCO 
2½NZL 
1½PAR 
2CHN 
½HKG 
3MAS 
3½AUS 
4ESP 
1FIN 
2½ARG 
3SUI 
1½DEN 
1½20 
 ChinaCHN 30½ 15 6 3 5 ISL 
3ARG 
½DOM 
3½SUI 
1½ROM 
1½AUT 
3½FIN 
2NED 
2SWE 
½VEN 
1½TUN 
2½SYR 
2½ECU 
4CUB 
221 
 MexicoMEX 30½ 16 7 2 5 TRI 
3DEN 
1½SUI 
1½URU 
3VEN 
1½PAR 
1PUR 
3PER 
1DOM 
2½NOR 
2BOL 
3ECU 
3COL 
2ISL 
2½22 
 FinlandFIN 30 14 6 2 6 JAM 
4NED 
1ARG2 
2½GER 
1PER 
3ESP 
2CHN 
2ISR 
1NZL 
3COL 
3AUT 
1½VEN 
3SWE 
1½BUL 
1½23 
 ColombiaCOL 30 15 5 5 4 UAE 
4ENG 
½DEN 
1HKG 
4ARG 
1½NED 
2SCO 
2½NOR 
3ISL 
2FIN 
1CHI 
2PHI 
2½MEX 
2BRA 
224 
 PhilippinesPHI 29½ 16 6 4 4 AND 
2PER 
2½WLS 
3½ISL 
2½ISR 
2POL 
2CUB 
1INA 
2½ARG2 
1½CHI 
2½SUI 
1COL 
1½SCO 
3NZL 
225 
 New ZealandNZL 29½ 15 7 1 6 GER 
0SRI 
3LUX 
3½AUT 
2½INA 
1½BRA 
1½MAS 
3½ARG2 
2FIN 
1TUN 
2½ECU 
1JPN 
3½PER 
3PHI 
226 
 IndonesiaINA 29½ 14 6 2 6 ZAI 
4BUL 
1CHI 
1½ROM 
2½NZL 
2½ARG 
1VEN 
2½PHI 
1½NOR 
1ECU 
2SCO 
1½GUA 
4AUS 
2PAR 
2½27 
 BrazilBRA 29½ 14 6 2 6 IVB 
4ISR 
1½VEN 
2½POL 
0TUN 
3NZL 
2½SUI 
1½WLS 
2½CHI 
1½NED 
1AUS 
2BOL 
4PAR 
1½COL 
228 
 IcelandISL 29 13 6 1 7 CHN 
1JPN 
4PAR 
3PHI 
1½AUS 
2½VEN 
3ARG 
1½FRA 
2½COL 
2BUL 
3HUN 
1ROM 
1CUB 
1½MEX 
1½29 
 ChileCHI 29 14 5 4 5 SRI 
4GER 
1½INA 
2½SWE 
1½SUI 
½SCO 
2JAM 
4CAN 
2BRA 
2½PHI 
1½COL 
2DEN 
½ARG2 
2½AUS 
230 
 AustraliaAUS 29 15 6 3 5 ISV 
3½YUG 
1½FAI 
3½USA 
1ISL 
1½NOR 
2½PAR 
2½ESP 
½AUT 
0SRI 
4BRA 
2ARG2 
2½INA 
2CHI 
231 
 NorwayNOR 29 14 6 2 6 BER 
3½SWE 
2½YUG 
1½FRA 
1ECU 
3AUS 
1½ARG2 
2COL 
1INA 
3MEX 
2VEN 
1½PAR 
2½ARG 
1½WLS 
2½- 
 Argentina "B"ARG2 28½ 12 5 2 7 JOR 
4URS 
½FIN 
1½PAR 
2WLS 
1½SYR 
4NOR 
2NZL 
3PHI 
2½ROM 
1NED 
1AUS 
1½CHI 
1½FRA 
2½32 
 ParaguayPAR 28½ 12 5 2 7 USA 
1AND 
4ISL 
1ARG2 
2AUT 
2MEX 
3AUS 
1½VEN 
3NED 
1½WLS 
2½CAN 
1½NOR 
1½BRA 
2½INA 
1½33 
 ScotlandSCO 28 14 6 2 6 HUN 
½MAS 
3½AUT 
1½GUY 
4CAN 
½CHI 
2COL 
1½DOM 
2ECU 
1½URU 
2½INA 
2½WLS 
2½PHI 
1PER 
2½34 
 VenezuelaVEN 28 13 6 1 7 MAU 
4ESP 
1½BRA 
1½ECU 
2MEX 
2½ISL 
1INA 
1½PAR 
1PUR 
3½CHN 
2½NOR 
2½FIN 
1FRA 
3ARG 
½35 
 SyriaSYR 28 13 6 1 7 FRA 
0URU 
1½BOL 
2½BER 
3½DOM 
1½ARG2 
0LUX 
3SRI 
2TUN 
1½MAR 
3PUR 
3½CHN 
1½WLS 
1½TRI 
336 
 FranceFRA 27½ 12 5 2 7 SYR 
4SUI 
2½BUL 
1½NOR 
3YUG 
2ISR 
1½ESP 
2½ISL 
1½ROM 
2POL 
1PER 
3½CAN 
0VEN 
1ARG2 
1½37 
 UruguayURU 27½ 15 5 5 4 NED 
0SYR 
2½MAU 
4MEX 
1BOL 
2MAS 
1SRI 
2GUY 
2½FAI 
2SCO 
1½GUA 
2½DOM 
2½TUN 
2HKG 
238 
 Dominican RepublicDOM 27½ 14 5 4 5 ENG 
0UAE 
3½CHN 
½MAR 
3SYR 
2½BOL 
3½CAN 
½SCO 
2MEX 
1½TRI 
2WAL 
22URU 
1½GUY 
3SRI 
239 
 Sri LankaSRI 27½ 13 3 7 4 CHI 
0NZL 
1MAS 
2GUA 
1½AND 
3½MAU 
2URU 
2SYR 
2JAM 
4AUS 
0FAI 
3½TUN 
2LUX 
2DOM 
240 
 Hong KongHKG 27½ 12 5 2 7 SWE 
1BER 
4POL 
1½COL 
0TRI 
3JAM 
1AUT 
1JPN 
3½WLS 
1BOL 
0UAE 
4MAS 
3½BEL 
2URU 
241 
 WalesWLS 27 13 6 1 7 URS 
1TRI 
3PHI 
½BEL 
3½ARG2 
2½ECU 
3GER 
0BRA 
1½HKG 
3PAR 
1½DOM 
2SCO 
1½SYR 
2½NOR 
1½42 
 PeruPER 27 11 5 1 8 CUB 
1½PHI 
1½TUN 
2FAI 
3½FIN 
1PUR 
2½GUY 
3½MEX 
3ARG 
1CAN 
1FRA 
½TRI 
3½NZL 
1SCO 
1½43 
 GuyanaGUY 27 12 6 0 8 AUT 
1½FAI 
½AND 
4SCO 
0LUX 
1½MAR 
4PER 
½URU 
1½BEL 
2½GUA 
1JOR 
2½BER 
4DOM 
1TUN 
2½44 
 JapanJPN 27 16 7 2 5 DEN 
1ISL 
0ISV 
2½TRI 
2MAU 
1JOR 
2½GUA 
2½HKG 
½ZAI 
4LBA 
3LUX 
2NZL 
½JAM 
2½PUR 
345 
 LuxembourgLUX 27 15 6 3 5 BUL 
0ZAI 
3NZL 
½JAM 
2GUY 
2½FAI 
1SYR 
1MAR 
2½AND 
3JOR 
2½JPN 
2BEL 
1½SRI 
2IVB 
3½46 
 Faroe IslandsFAI 27 12 5 2 7 MAR 
2GUY 
3½AUS 
½PER 
½MAS 
1LUX 
3BEL 
2½ECU 
1½URU 
2PUR 
1½SRI 
½IVB 
4LBA 
1½ZAI 
347 
 BelgiumBEL 26½ 12 4 4 6 SUI 
1BOL 
3SWE 
½WLS 
½MAR 
1½BER 
3½FAI 
1½TRI 
2GUY 
1½MAS 
2JAM 
3LUX 
2½HKG 
2GUA 
248 
 GuatemalaGUA 26½ 14 6 2 6 ESP 
0MAU 
1LBA 
2½SRI 
2½PUR 
1½TRI 
2½JPN 
1½JAM 
2MAS 
2½GUY 
3URU 
1½INA 
0UAE 
4BEL 
249 
 MoroccoMAR 26½ 14 6 2 6 FAI 
2CUB 
0JAM 
2½DOM 
1BEL 
2½GUY 
0LBA 
2½LUX 
1½BER 
3½SYR 
1ZAI 
4PUR 
2½BOL 
1½ECU 
250 
 TunisiaTUN 26 12 4 4 6 YUG 
½ISV 
3PER 
2JOR 
4BRA 
1ROM 
0ECU 
2BOL 
2½SYR 
2½NZL 
1½CHN 
1½SRI 
2URU 
2GUY 
1½51 
 EcuadorSCU 26 14 5 4 5 ISR 
0IVB 
3PUR 
4VEN 
2NOR 
1WLS 
1TUN 
2FAI 
2½SCO 
2½INA 
2NZL 
3MEX 
1CHN 
0MAR 
252 
 BoliviaBOL 26 12 5 2 7 ARG 
1BEL 
1SYR 
1½UAE 
4URU 
2DOM 
½MAU 
2½TUN 
1½TRI 
2½HKG 
4MEX 
1BRA 
0MAR 
2½JAM 
253 
 Trinidad and TobagoTRI 26 10 3 4 7 MEX 
1WLS 
1JOR 
2JPN 
2HKG 
1GUA 
1½ISV 
3½BEL 
2BOL 
1½DOM 
2AND 
3½PER 
½IVB 
3½SYR 
154 
 JordanBOL 26 14 5 4 5 ARG2 
0JAM 
2TRI 
2TUN 
0BER 
2½JPN 
1½IVB 
2½AND 
2MAU 
3½LUX 
1½GUY 
1½LBA 
2½ZAI 
2ISV 
2½55 
 JamaicaJAM 25½ 12 4 4 6 FIN 
0JOR 
2MAR 
1½LUX 
2ZAI 
3½HKG 
3CHI 
0GUA 
2SRI 
0IVB 
3½BEL 
1UAE 
3½JPN 
1½BOL 
256 
 Puerto RicoPUR 25 12 6 0 8 ROM 
0LBA 
3ECU 
0ISV 
4GUA 
2½PER 
1½MEX 
1MAU 
4VEN 
½FAI 
2½SYR 
½MAR 
1½MAS 
3JPN 
157 
 MalaysiaMAS 25 12 5 2 7 POL 
½SCO 
½SRI 
2LBA 
3½FAI 
3URU 
3NZL 
½AUT 
½GUA 
1½BEL 
2ISV 
3HKG 
½PUR 
1UAE 
3½58 
 LibyaLBA 23½ 10 4 2 8 CAN 
0PUR 
1GUA 
1½MAS 
½ISV 
2ZAI 
2MAR 
1½IVB 
2½UAE 
3½JPN 
1BER 
1½JOR 
1½FAI 
2½AND 
2½59 
 MauritaniaMAU 23½ 13 5 3 6 VEN 
0GUA 
3URU 
0AND 
2½JPN 
3SRI 
2BOL 
1½PUR 
0JOR 
½UAE 
2IVB 
3ZAI 
3ISV 
1BER 
260 
 AndorraAND 22½ 10 3 4 7 PHI 
2PAR 
0GUY 
0MAU 
1½SRI 
½IVB 
3UAE 
3½JOR 
2LUX 
1ZAI 
3TRI 
½ISV 
2BER 
2LBA 
1½61 
 United States Virgin IslandsISV 22 9 3 3 8 AUS 
½TUN 
1JPN 
1½PUR 
0LBA 
2UAE 
3TRI 
½ZAI 
2½IVB 
2BER 
1½MAS 
1AND 
2MAU 
3JOR 
1½62 
 BermudaBER 20½ 11 4 3 7 NOR 
½HKG 
0IVB 
3½SYR 
½JOR 
1½BEL 
½ZAI 
2UAE 
2½MAR 
½ISV 
2½LBA 
2½GUY 
0AND 
2MAU 
263 
 ZaireZAI 16 5 1 3 10 INA 
0LUX 
1UAE 
1IVB 
3JAM 
½LBA 
2BER 
2ISV 
1½JPN 
0AND 
1MAR 
0MAU 
1JOR 
2FAI 
164 
 United Arab EmiratesUAE 12½ 5 2 1 11 COL 
0DOM 
½ZAI 
3BOL 
0IVB 
2½ISV 
1AND 
½BER 
1½LBA 
½MAU 
2HKG 
0JAM 
½GUA 
0MAS 
½65 
 British Virgin IslandsIVB 12½ 1 0 1 13 BRA 
0ECU 
1BER 
½ZAI 
1UAE 
1½AND 
1JOR 
1½LBA 
1½ISV 
2JAM 
½MAU 
1FAI 
0TRI 
½LUX 
½
Individual medals
    
- Board 1: 
 Viktor Korchnoi 9/11 = 81.8% - Board 2: 
 Adam Kuligowski 10/13 = 76.9% - Board 3: 
 Georgi Tringov 8½/11 = 77.3% - Board 4: 
 Glenn Bordonada 7/9 = 77.8% - 1st reserve: 
 James Tarjan 9½/11 = 86.4% - 2nd reserve: 
 John Turner 6½/7 = 92.9% 
Women's event
    
Thirty-two nations took part in the women's Olympiad. From four preliminary groups the teams were split into four finals. In the event of a draw, the tie-break was decided first by match points, then by using the Sonneborn-Berger system.
The Soviet team was back, and led by newly crowned world champion Chiburdanidze they secured the gold medals in a superior display, as well as all four individual board prizes. On the reserve board, Akhmilovskaya won all of her ten games, the only perfect score in Olympiad history. Hungary and West Germany took silver and bronze, respectively.
Preliminaries
    
- Group 1:
 
| Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| «A» | - | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 20½ | ||
| «A» | 0 | - | 1½ | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 | ||
| «B» | ½ | 1½ | - | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2½ | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 | ||
| «B» | 0 | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | 1½ | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | ||
| «C» | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2½ | - | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7½ | ||
| «C» | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1½ | 3 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7½ | ||
| «D» | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | 2½ | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7½ | ||
| «D» | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | - | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 
- Group 2:
 
| Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| «A» | - | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 19 | ||
| «A» | 1½ | - | 3 | 1½ | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 2½ | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | ||
| «B» | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 13½ | ||
| «B» | ½ | 1½ | 1 | - | 1 | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 | ||
| «C» | 0 | 1 | ½ | 2 | - | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 4 | 3 | 0 | 11 | ||
| «C» | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | - | 2½ | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6 | ||
| «D» | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4½ | ||
| «D» | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | - | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 
- Group 3:
 
| Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| «A» | - | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 2½ | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 15½ | ||
| «A» | 1½ | - | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 1½ | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 14½ | ||
| «B» | 1½ | 1 | - | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 13 | ||
| «B» | 1 | 1 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12½ | ||
| «C» | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1½ | - | 2½ | 1 | 2½ | 2 | 4 | 1 | 10 | ||
| «C» | ½ | 1½ | 2 | ½ | ½ | - | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 9½ | ||
| «D» | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7½ | ||
| «D» | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1½ | - | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1½ | 
- Group 4:
 
| Final | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| «A» | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 16½ | ||
| «A» | 1 | - | 1½ | 3 | 3 | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16½ | ||
| «B» | 2 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 15½ | ||
| «B» | 1 | 0 | 1½ | - | 3 | 1½ | 2½ | 2½ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||
| «C» | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | - | 2 | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 8 | ||
| «C» | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1½ | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6½ | ||
| «D» | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 2 | - | 1½ | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4½ | ||
| «D» | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 2 | 1½ | - | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4½ | 
Finals
    
Final A # Country Players Average 
ratingPoints MP S-B 1 
 Soviet UnionChiburdanidze, Gaprindashvili, Alexandria, Akhmilovskaya 2370 16 2 
 HungaryVerőci-Petronić, Ivánka, Makai, Kas 2260 11 8 43.00 3 
 West GermanyLaakmann, Fischdick, Hund, Weichert 2143 11 8 37.50 4 
 YugoslaviaMarković, Maček, Pihajlić, Prokopović 2197 11 7 5 
 PolandEreńska-Radzewska, Szmacińska, Jurczyńska, Wiese 2147 10½ 6 
 SpainGarcía Vicente, Ferrer Lucas, García Padrón, Cuevas Rodríguez 2043 8½ 6 7 
 BulgariaLemachko, Krumova, Shikova, Asenova 2175 8½ 4 8 
 EnglandMiles, Jackson, Caldwell, Pritchard 2130 7½ 
Final B # Country Players Average 
ratingPoints MP 9 
 SwedenBorisova, Dahlin, Bengtsson, Cramling 2072 15 13 10 
 RomaniaPolihroniade, Baumstark, Mureșan, Nuțu 2183 15 11 11 
 Netherlandsvan der Mije, Vreeken, van Parreren, Belle 2140 10 12 
 ArgentinaSoppe, Arias, Justo, Cazón 1953 9½ 7 13 
 FranceMerlini, Tagnon, Ruck-Petit, Warkentin 1935 9½ 4 14 
 United StatesSavereide, Haring, Herstein, Teasley 2110 9 15 
 IndiaKhadilkar R., Khadilkar J., Khadilkar V. 1800 8½ 16 
 AustraliaPope, Kellner, McGrath, Depasquale 1975 7½ 
Final C # Country Players Average 
ratingPoints MP S-B 17 
 DenmarkHøiberg, Haahr, Larsen 1967 13 9 42.25 18 
 CanadaShterenberg, Day, Baltgailis 1907 13 9 41.25 19 
 ColombiaGuggenberger, Patiño, Gómez, Zapata 1880 12 20 
 BrazilCardoso, Simonsen, Assunção, Snitkowsky 1807 11½ 9 21 
 FinlandVuorenpää-Landry, Palasto, Pihlajamäki, Ristoja 1893 11½ 8 22 
 ScotlandHoustoun, Hindle, Elder, McGhee 1813 1 23 
 JapanWatai, Takahashi, Nakagawa, Shibuta 1802 6½ 24 
 MexicoMaurá Denis, Camps de Ocampo, Escondrillas, Salazar 1800 5½ 
Final D # Country Players Average 
ratingPoints MP S-B 25 
 WalesGarwell, Evans, Brunker, Watkins 1880 17½ 26 
 IcelandTorsteinsdóttir, Tráinsdóttir, Norðdahl, Samúelsdóttir 1800 13½ 27 
 VenezuelaGarcía La Rosa, Casique, Arteaga, Niño del Táchira 1800 12 28 
 BoliviaArias M., Zubieta S., Zubieta A. M., Arias D. 1800 10½ 7 34.25 29 
 UruguayDe los Santos, Villar de Armas, Ferrari Frei, Fernández Lares 1800 10½ 7 26.00 30 
 New ZealandFoster, Stretch, Barrowman, Davies 1800 10½ 7 25.25 31 
 MonacoFässler, Santoy, Haumeder, Fleureau 1800 5½ 32 
 Puerto RicoCastellón de Santana, Rodríguez Ramírez, Paniagua Torres, Landrau Laureano 1800 4 
Final «A»
    
| No. | Country | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2½ | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 16 | ||
| 2 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | ||
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 1½ | - | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | ||
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 3 | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10½ | ||
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 1½ | ½ | 0 | - | 1½ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8½ | ||
| 7 | ½ | 1½ | 1½ | 1 | 1 | 1½ | - | 1½ | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8½ | ||
| 8 | 1 | 1½ | 1 | 2 | ½ | 0 | 1½ | - | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7½ | 
Final «B»
    
| No. | Country | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | - | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 15 | ||
| 10 | 1½ | - | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2½ | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | ||
| 11 | 1 | 1 | - | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 12 | 1 | 0 | 1½ | - | 2 | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9½ | ||
| 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 2½ | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 9½ | ||
| 14 | ½ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 2½ | 2 | 5 | 0 | 9 | ||
| 15 | 1 | ½ | 2 | 1½ | ½ | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9½ | ||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | ½ | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7½ | 
Final «C»
    
| No. | Country | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | - | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 1 | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 1 | 3 | 13 | ||
| 18 | 1 | - | 2½ | 1½ | 3 | ½ | 2 | 2½ | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 | ||
| 19 | 1½ | ½ | - | 1½ | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 1½ | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | ||
| 20 | 1½ | 1½ | 1½ | - | 2 | 2 | 1½ | 1½ | 2 | 0 | 5 | 11½ | ||
| 21 | 2 | 0 | 1½ | 1 | - | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11½ | ||
| 22 | 1½ | 2½ | 0 | 1 | 1½ | - | 2 | 2½ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | ||
| 23 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1½ | 0 | 1 | - | 2½ | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6½ | ||
| 24 | ½ | ½ | 1½ | 1½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5½ | 
Final «D»
    
| No. | Country | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | + | − | = | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | - | 2 | 2½ | 1½ | 3 | 2½ | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 17½ | ||
| 26 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 13½ | ||
| 27 | ½ | 1 | - | 2½ | 1½ | 2 | 2½ | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | ||
| 28 | 1½ | 2 | ½ | - | 1 | 1½ | 1½ | 2½ | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10½ | ||
| 29 | 0 | 1 | 1½ | 2 | - | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10½ | ||
| 30 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1½ | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10½ | ||
| 31 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1½ | 0 | 1 | - | 1½ | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5½ | ||
| 32 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1½ | - | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 
Individual medals
    
- Board 1: 
 Maia Chiburdanidze 9/11 = 81.8% - Board 2: 
 Nona Gaprindashvili 9½/11 = 86.4% - Board 3: 
 Nana Alexandria 8/10 = 80% - Reserve: 
 Elena Akhmilovskaya 10/10 = 100% 
References
    
- Although commonly referred to as the men's division, this section is open to both male and female players.
 
- 23rd Chess Olympiad: Buenos Aires 1978 OlimpBase