Vantika Agrawal Shines as Indian Men and Women Hold Strong Positions in Chess Olympiad

In a thrilling turn of events at the 45th Chess Olympiad, International Master Vantika Agrawal emerged as the hero for India as she defeated Grandmaster Irina Krush of the United States to secure a crucial 2-2 draw. This result kept the Indian team in sole lead in the competition.

The Indian women’s team faced tough competition from the United States, with R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh settling for draws in their respective games. Tania Sachdev also missed an opportunity to secure a win, ending her game in a draw. However, it was Vantika who stepped up and delivered a stunning victory, leveling the score for India.

With this draw, India now has 15 points in the competition and will need two victories in the remaining rounds to keep their gold medal chances alive. Kazakhstan, who defeated Poland 2.5-1.5, emerged as the new sole leader in the women’s section.

In the Open section, the Indian men’s team conceded their first point with four draws against Uzbekistan. Despite a missed opportunity for a win, the team remains in a strong position with 17 points from nine rounds. They are set to face top seed United States in a crucial clash in the upcoming rounds.

Overall, the competition remains intense with several teams vying for the top positions. The Indian teams, both men and women, have shown great determination and skill in their performances so far, keeping fans on the edge of their seats with each round.