In a momentous finish at the Chess Olympiad in Hungary, Indian chess prodigy D. Gukesh spearheaded the nation’s triumph with a crucial victory over Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Fedoseev. This exceptional performance secured a historic gold for India. Alongside Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi contributed significantly, clinching a win against Serbian player Jan Subelj on the final day.
The Indian women’s team also made history by claiming their first gold medal after a commanding 3.5-0.5 victory over Azerbaijan. This achievement was further solidified as China’s team dropped key points in their match against the USA, enabling India’s ascent to the top.
India’s men’s team showcased unparalleled dominance throughout the tournament, scoring 21 out of a possible 22 points. The team, comprising Gukesh, Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa R., Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, and captain Srinath Narayanan, delivered stellar performances throughout, including Praggnanandhaa’s pivotal win over Anton Demchenko, which contributed to their decisive 3-0 triumph over Slovenia.
This Olympiad marked India’s first in-person gold medal, having previously shared gold in an online Olympiad during the pandemic. Prior to this, their best finishes were bronze medals in 2022 and 2014.
Heading into the final round, the Indian men’s team led the open section standings with 19 points, ahead of China and Slovenia with 17 and 16 points respectively. In the women’s section, India and Kazakhstan were tied at the top with 17 points, with India leading on tiebreakers. Close contenders USA and Poland followed with 16 points each.
Congratulations poured in for the victorious team from The International Chess Federation and fellow chess enthusiasts worldwide, celebrating a landmark achievement in Indian chess history.
Original Story https://www.news18.com/sports/45th-chess-olympiad-d-gukesh-shines-as-india-clinch-historic-gold-in-budapest-9059669.html
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