BRING YOUR VISION INTO ACTION
22nd September 2024 will forever be etched in the history of Indian chess, marking one of the greatest moments ever! Team India secured Double Gold Medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, with victories in both the Open and Women’s sections. For the first time in Chess Olympiad history, India emerged victorious in not one but two categories, cementing its position as a global chess powerhouse.
India’s Open Team Dominates Slovenia to Win Gold
The Indian Open team needed only a draw against Slovenia to clinch gold, but they went above and beyond with a commanding 3.5-0.5 victory. GM Vidit Gujrathi settled for a hard-fought draw, while GMs Gukesh Dommaraju, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa won their respective matches. Arjun’s decisive victory over Jan Subelj sealed India’s historic triumph. With an impressive 21/22 match points, India dominated the tournament, taking home the gold with unmatched brilliance.
Indian Women Secure Gold After Defeating Azerbaijan
In the Women’s section, India’s formidable team had to beat Azerbaijan to secure the top spot. GM Harika Dronavalli, IM Divya Deshmukh, and IM Vantika Agrawal delivered stunning victories, while GM Vaishali Rameshbabu drew her game to lead India to a 3.5-0.5 victory. With Kazakhstan held to a 2-2 draw by the USA, India was confirmed as the gold medalist with a total of 19/22 match points.
This is a historic first for India, as the country had never won a gold medal in the Chess Olympiad until now, only to win two in the same edition!
GM Gukesh Dommaraju on winning the individual gold medal on Board 1 at the 45th Chess Olympiad with a massive score of 9/10! 👏
GM Arjun Erigaisi on winning the individual gold medal on Board 3 at the 45th Chess Olympiad with a stellar score of 10/11!
IM Divya Deshmukh on securing the individual gold medal on Board 3 at the 45th FIDE Women’s Chess Olympiad with an amazing score of 9.5/11
IM Vantika Agrawal on securing the individual gold medal on Board 4 at the 45th FIDE Women’s Chess Olympiad with a great score of 7.5/9
Key Highlights:
- Open Section: India beat Slovenia 3.5-0.5 to secure gold with 21/22 match points.
- Women’s Section: India beat Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5 to win gold with 19/22 match points.
- Individual Board Success: Players like GMs Gukesh, Arjun, Praggnanandhaa, Harika, Vantika, and Divya led the charge, with many more individual board medals expected.
India’s dominance in Budapest is a testament to the hard work, talent, and dedication of the players, coaches, and the entire team. This victory is not only a historic milestone but also a symbol of India’s growing influence on the global chess stage.