India and Russia Share Historic Gold at FIDE Online Olympiad

India and Russia Make History by Sharing Gold at FIDE Online Olympiad

In a thrilling turn of events, the India team at the FIDE Online Olympiad made history on 30 August by winning its first-ever gold. However, this victory was shared with Russia after an internet failure affected two crucial games, leading to a joint win for both teams.

Russia, the favorites to win, faced off against India in the finals. Despite being seeded seventh, the Indian team had a dream run at the Olympiad, with teenage grandmasters Nihal Sarin and R Praggnanandhaa leading them to the quarterfinals. Koneru Humpy, the women’s chess #2, put up a strong performance in a tie-breaker match to secure a spot in the finals. The team also included chess legends like Anand, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna.

The first round ended in a draw between India and Russia, setting the stage for a tense second round. With Koneru Humpy losing her game and other players drawing theirs, it all came down to 14-year-old Divya Deshmukh to secure India’s shot at the gold. In a nail-biting moment, Deshmukh was on the verge of victory when the servers crashed, leading to chaos and confusion.

After an official appeal from Team India and a review by FIDE, it was decided that both India and Russia would be declared joint winners, marking a historic moment in the chess Olympiad. Indian netizens celebrated the victory, with #ChessOlympiad trending on Twitter and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating the team.

The FIDE decision to have joint-winners has no precedent, but it was seen as a fair resolution given the circumstances. The results are expected to boost the profile of chess in India, with discussions already underway about the possibility of an Indian Chess League.

Despite the celebrations, some questions remain about the outcome and the handling of internet issues during the tournament. The FIDE decision could potentially lead to further discussions and changes in future tournaments.

Overall, the shared gold at the FIDE Online Olympiad will go down in history as a memorable and unprecedented moment in the world of chess. Team India’s players, exhausted but elated, are now looking forward to celebrating their historic achievement.