India Dominates 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad, Marking a New Era in Chess
India’s remarkable triumph at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad signifies a seismic shift in the global chess landscape. Hosted in Budapest, Hungary, the event saw India’s teams secure gold in both the Open and Women’s categories—the first double golds for India in Olympiad history. Notable performances came from GM Gukesh Dommaraju, GM Arjun Erigaisi, IM Divya Deshmukh, and IM Vantika Agrawal, who clinched individual golds.
Led by the legacy of 15th World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, India’s rise in chess is no surprise. With 21/22 and 19/21 match points in their respective categories, both teams achieved near-perfection, breaking records previously held by the U.S. and Ukraine.
This Olympiad marks the end of European domination in the sport, as no European teams made it to the podium in either category. Other notable moments include the competition between Gukesh and World Champion Ding Liren, with Gukesh’s extraordinary 3056 rating performance overshadowing Ding’s struggles.
GM Arjun Erigaisi’s meteoric rise to world number three also captured attention, while the U.S. and Uzbekistan managed to secure medals despite facing challenges. Meanwhile, dark horse teams from Serbia and Armenia came close but missed out on podium finishes.
Young talents from Turkey and Kazakhstan made significant impacts, indicating a promising future. The U.S. Women’s team also shone, with standout performances from 14-year-old IM Alice Lee and 21-year-old Carissa Yip.
However, the event wasn’t without controversy, as anti-cheating measures led to delays and leaks of game results, generating debate.
Overall, India’s overwhelming success and the emergence of young talent globally underscore a new chapter in chess. Enthusiasts now await the 2026 Olympiad in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with great anticipation.
Original Story https://www.chess.com/news/view/chess-olympiad-2024-14-things-we-learned
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