In a remarkable achievement, Team India made waves at the prestigious International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad held in Budapest by winning not one but two gold medals in both the men’s and women’s competitions. This unprecedented victory marked a proud moment in India's chess history and this was reflecting the country's growing dominance in the international chess arena.
India’s Men's Team: A Strategic Masterclass
The men's team that was consisting of talented players such as D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna, showcased outstanding skills and teamwork to secure their gold medal. In the final round, India faced Slovenia where their strategic brilliance was on full display.
The key victories came from D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, who gave India an early 2-0 lead, ensuring the team’s overall success. Gukesh, in particular, had delivered a crucial win over Vladimir Fedoseev, while Erigaisi outplayed Jan Subelj, both of which solidified India's advantage. R Praggnanandhaa followed with a victory of his own, while Vidit Gujrathi held his match to a draw. The final score of 3.5-0.5 in favour of India left no doubt about their dominance and thereby earning them the desired gold medal.
Women's Team: Rising Stars Conquer Azerbaijan
India’s women’s team, comprised of Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal and Tania Sachdev who had also delivered a stellar performance by winning their final match against Azerbaijan with an identical scoreline of 3.5-0.5. Each player contributed significantly to the team’s overall success, demonstrating both strategic skill and determination.
This gold medal win for the women’s team is particularly noteworthy, as it reflects the growing strength and talent pool in Indian women's chess. Their victory over Azerbaijan was marked by decisive victories by positioning India as a force to be reckoned with in the world of chess.
Global Recognition of India’s Achievement
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) took to social media to celebrate India’s historic achievement by acknowledging the exceptional performance of both the men’s and women’s teams. In a statement posted on X, FIDE congratulated the players by highlighting the key victories that led to the gold medal wins. This double gold victory strengthens India’s reputation as a global chess powerhouse and sets the stage for even greater achievements in future tournaments.
India's success at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad is a testament to the nation’s rising chess talent and strategic acumen. Both the men’s and women’s teams demonstrated exceptional teamwork, mental strength and technical expertise, concluding in a historic double gold victory. With this achievement, India continues to set its standing on the global chess stage by inspiring a new generation of players and fans alike.
India’s Chess Triumphs at the Olympiad: A Detailed Breakdown
In the final round of the Chess Olympiad, Indian chess stars Harika Dronavalli, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agrawal secured victories in their respective matches by contributing to an impressive team performance. R. Vaishali, another key member of the team achieved a draw against her opponent, Ulviyya Fataliyeva.
A Step Up for India’s Women's Team
According to reports from ESPN, the Indian women's chess team built on their success from the 2022 Chennai Olympiad where they earned their first-ever bronze medal. This time as they not only continued to perform at a high level but showed marked improvement by showcasing their growing strength on the international stage.
India's Match Against Azerbaijan
The International Chess Federation, through their post on X (formerly Twitter), highlighted India's stellar performance, writing: “India beats Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5! Women’s #ChessOlympiad | Round 11.” The attention then shifted to the final showdown between Kazakhstan and the USA. The post explained that if Kazakhstan were to defeat the USA, they would tie with India for first place and leading to the tournament being decided by tie-breaks.
Indian Men's Team Continues Strong Showing
In the 10th round, India’s men’s chess team faced a tough match against the USA but emerged victorious by defeating their opponents 2.5-1.5. D Gukesh, one of India’s rising stars and a winner of the prestigious FIDE Candidates tournament opened the match with an outstanding victory over Fabiano Caruana by clinching the game 1-0.
However, even with Gukesh’s early success and the match wasn’t without setbacks. R Praggnanadhaa, another Indian prodigy had faced a rare defeat against Wesley. So, losing 0-1. Despite this hiccup, India quickly regained momentum thanks to Arjun Erigaisi’s victory over Leinier Perez by securing another 1-0 win. Vidit Gujrathi then managed to hold Levon Aronian to a draw, with their match ending 0.5-0.5, which ultimately contributed to India’s overall win.
India’s Journey Through the Tournament
Before facing the USA, India’s men’s team had been on a remarkable winning streak by having won eight consecutive rounds. This streak came to an end with a draw in the ninth round and yet the team maintained their position at the top of the standings. After ten rounds, India led the table with an impressive 19 match points with a clear indicator of their dominance throughout the tournament.
India’s History of Chess Olympiad Success
India’s chess achievements have grown steadily in recent years. Their previous best performances in the Chess Olympiad came in the form of two bronze medals that were won in 2014 and again in 2022. In addition, during the 2020 Chess Olympiad, which was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, India made headlines by sharing the gold medal with Russia, further establishing itself as a chess powerhouse.
The Chess Olympiad has once again proven India’s strength in the game of chess with both the men's and women's teams delivering remarkable performances. With their rich history and continuous improvement, Indian chess players are setting new benchmarks on the global stage. Whether it’s in individual brilliance or team effort, India’s chess future looks brighter than ever.
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