Indian Men Stay in Sole Lead After Drawing with Uzbekistan, Vantika Agrawal Shines Against USA

International Master Vantika Agrawal emerged as the hero for India in the ongoing 45th Chess Olympiad in Mumbai, delivering a crucial victory against Grandmaster Irina Krush to secure a 2-2 draw against the United States. The Indian men’s team maintained their lead after splitting points with Uzbekistan in the ninth round of the competition.

Despite resting Grandmaster D Harika, the Indian team faced tough competition on the boards. R Vaishali suffered a defeat to Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, while Divya Deshmukh settled for a draw with Carissa Yip. Tania Sachdev missed a chance to secure a win against Alice Lee. However, it was Vantika who rose to the occasion and equalized the score with a brilliant victory over her higher-rated opponent.

With this draw, India now stands at 15 points and will need two victories in the remaining rounds to keep their gold medal hopes alive. Kazakhstan took the lead in the competition with 16 points, defeating Poland 2.5-1.5. The Indian women’s team is in second place, followed closely by nine other teams with 14 points each.

In the Open section, the Indian men’s team conceded their first point with four draws against defending champions Uzbekistan. Despite missed opportunities, the team remains in the lead with 17 points from nine rounds. They are set to face top seed United States in a crucial clash in the next round.

Overall, the competition remains intense with several teams vying for the top positions in both the Open and Women’s sections. The stage is set for an exciting finish to the 45th Chess Olympiad in Mumbai.