India’s chess masters have etched their names in history by clinching gold medals in both the men’s and women’s team competitions at the 45th International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad held in Budapest. This monumental achievement not only highlights India’s growing dominance in the world of chess but also showcases the talents of its emerging young stars.
Alongside the team championships, India walked away with four individual gold medals, solidifying their impressive performance throughout the tournament. The men’s team, consisting of Gukesh Dommaraju, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi, secured victory in the Open event. The women’s team, featuring notable players like Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev, also triumphed, winning their respective matches decisively.
Gukesh, Erigaisi, Deshmukh, and Agrawal were individually recognized for their exceptional play, each winning gold medals on their respective boards. Viswanathan Anand, one of India’s chess legends, hailed the achievement as “unbelievable,” noting that it represents a culmination of years of dedication and hard work within the Indian chess community. “It feels like a magical time for India,” Anand remarked during the final day of the tournament, expressing his pride in the team’s success.
The men’s team had a stellar run, winning 27 of their 44 games, with only one loss and six draws. Their final round against Slovenia ended in a convincing 3.5-0.5 victory, while the women’s team matched that scoreline with a strong performance against Azerbaijan. Gukesh, who has also qualified for the World Chess Championship final in November, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s collective effort and their dominant performance.
Eighteen-year-old Deshmukh emerged as a standout player in the women’s competition, finishing undefeated with seven wins and four draws. She shared her emotions following the win, stating, “It started off well but got a bit tough in the middle. I am proud of how we handled it and fought back.” Her remarkable performance did not go unnoticed, with chess great Susan Polgar commending her achievements and predicting continued success for the Indian chess team in the future.
With India achieving joint winner status in the men’s competition during the 2020 edition held online, this latest victory marks a significant milestone. The final standings reflected India’s dominance, with the men’s team finishing first with 21 points and the women’s team leading with 19 points, outpacing formidable rivals such as the USA and Kazakhstan.
As the chess community celebrates this landmark achievement, the future looks bright for Indian chess, with promising talents poised to lead the nation to even greater heights on the global stage.
