Viswanathan Anand opts out of India’s 2024 Chess Olympiad squad, paving way for young talent to shine

Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand will not be part of India’s 2024 Chess Olympiad squad, marking the second consecutive edition where his name is missing from the lineup. However, the Indian men’s team may not feel his absence as much this time, thanks to the impressive performances of rising stars like R Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh, and Vidit Gujrathi.

India secured a bronze medal in the 2022 Olympiad without Anand, who has been focusing on mentoring the next generation of Indian chess players. The 11th-ranked Anand has decided to take a step back and allow the younger players to shine on the international stage.

Gukesh made history earlier this year by winning the Candidates Chess Tournament at just 17 years old, breaking Garry Kasparov’s record. Praggnanandhaa has also made significant strides, defeating top players like Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren.

Anand, who describes himself as “semi-retired,” has been gradually transitioning out of competitive play since 2020. He has expressed his intention to participate in a few events next year, including possibly returning to play in Spain.

The Indian men’s team, seeded second for the upcoming Olympiad, includes Vidit Gujrathi, Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Arjun Erigaise, and P Harikrishna. The Indian women’s team, on the other hand, is the top seed and will be led by D Harika and R Vaishali, with Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Agarwal rounding out the lineup. Tania Sachdev will serve as the reserve player for the team.