India Dominates FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024: Vidit Gujrathi Declares Golden Era for Indian Chess

India’s Chess Olympiad 2024 Victory Marks Golden Era for Indian Chess

New Delhi [India]: After a stunning performance at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, India’s men’s and women’s teams emerged victorious, securing gold medals in both events. Vidit Gujrathi, a member of the men’s squad, expressed that the golden era of chess has just begun for India.

Speaking to ANI, Vidit stated, “We can call it a golden era for Indian chess, as gold has been won. The same team competed in the Asian Games, but I think everyone has stepped up their game over the past year. We were winning by significant margins, and it was a dominant performance.”

The Indian team remained unbeaten in the tournament, with an impressive record of 43 wins and one draw in 44 matches. Vidit emphasized the historic achievement, stating, “In the history of the Chess Olympiad, this is the highest score ever recorded. It was unprecedented, and I don’t think even we will be able to break our own record in the future.”

Reflecting on the growth of chess in India, Vidit drew parallels with other sports, noting that monumental victories inspire youngsters to take up less traditional sports. He also praised his teammates D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi for their exceptional performances throughout the tournament.

In the final round, India’s men’s team clinched the gold medal by defeating Slovenia, with victories from Gukesh and Erigaisi securing the win. The women’s team, comprising Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and Tania Sachdev, also claimed gold after a dominant performance against Azerbaijan.

The USA secured second place in the men’s competition and bronze in the women’s, while Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan secured bronze and silver, respectively. The victories in Budapest have undoubtedly marked a new chapter in Indian chess, signaling a promising future for the sport in the country.