India defeats China in Round 7 of Chess Olympiad 2024

In a thrilling showdown at the Chess Olympiad 2024, India emerged victorious over arch-rival China in round seven of the open section. The match, held at the SYMA Sports and Conference Centre in Budapest, Hungary, saw rising star GM D Gukesh secure a crucial win for India by defeating World No. 8 China’s Wei Yi.

Despite a tough battle with Arjun Erigaisi, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Pentala Harikrishna unable to break through the Chinese defenses, Gukesh’s persistence paid off as he kept pressing until Wei Yi made a critical mistake, leading to India’s victory.

The match was initially heading towards a 2-2 draw, but Gukesh’s strategic play with the white pieces turned the tide in India’s favor. This win propelled India to the top of the standings with seven wins in as many rounds and 14 match points, ahead of Iran and Uzbekistan in the open section.

In the women’s section, the top-seeded Indian team also had a successful outing against Georgia, with Harika Dronavalli, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and R. Vaishali delivering crucial wins and draws for the team.

With India leading the standings in both the open and women’s sections, all eyes are now on the upcoming matches against Iran and Poland in round eight. The Indian teams are determined to maintain their winning streak and continue their impressive performance in the Chess Olympiad 2024.