India Makes History: Secures Gold at 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad

India made history at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Hungary by clinching their first-ever gold medal in the open category. The Indian team, led by chess prodigy D Gukesh and supported by Arjun Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa R, Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, and Srinath Narayanan, put up a stellar performance throughout the tournament.

The decisive moment came when China faltered against the USA, paving the way for India to secure the gold medal. Gukesh’s victory over Russia’s Vladimir Fedoseev and Erigaisi’s win against Serbia’s Jan Subelj were crucial in sealing India’s triumph.

This historic win marks India’s first gold in an in-person Chess Olympiad, adding to their previous shared gold in the online Olympiad during the pandemic. The country’s previous best performances were bronze medals in 2022 and 2014.

In the women’s section, India and Kazakhstan were neck and neck for the top spot, with India ultimately edging ahead on tiebreakers. The USA and Poland were also in contention, making for an exciting finish to the tournament.

Congratulations poured in for the Indian team, with fans and chess enthusiasts celebrating their remarkable achievement. The players’ dedication and skill were on full display as they outplayed some of the best chess players in the world to claim the coveted gold medal. India’s triumph at the Chess Olympiad is a testament to the growing prowess of Indian chess players on the international stage.