Chess Olympiad Round 4 Recap: India Dominates as Top Teams Slip Up

The fourth round of the Chess Olympiad in Budapest was filled with excitement and surprises as some of the top teams faced setbacks while India continued to dominate the standings. India secured a 3.5-0.5 victory over Serbia, with players like Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Vidit Gujrathi showcasing their skills and contributing to the team’s success.

Gukesh’s impressive win against GM Alexandr Predke propelled him to the 5th spot in the FIDE live ratings, with a rating of 2772.7. His teammate Arjun Erigaisi also saw a rise in his rating, now standing at 2785.0 in the live ratings. Additionally, Praggnanandhaa’s performance at the Olympiad earned him a live rating of 2753.4, placing him in the 10th spot in the live rankings.

With three Indian players now in the top 10 of the live ratings, including chess legend Viswanathan Anand at the 11th spot, India’s prospects at the Chess Olympiad look promising. However, the competition saw some major upsets as the top-seeded American team suffered a defeat at the hands of Ukraine, and defending champions Uzbekistan were also defeated by Vietnam.

Notable players like Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So faced tough challenges in their matches, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the Olympiad. Despite the setbacks, the tournament is far from over, with seven rounds remaining and intense competition expected in the coming days. Stay tuned for more updates on the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest.