45th Chess Olympiad: Indian Men and Women Clinch Gold in Historic Budapest Campaign
Sunday, 22nd September 2024, will forever be etched in Indian chess history as the ‘Golden Day’. As the nation celebrated an unprecedented double gold victory at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The Indian men’s team defeated Slovenia, while the women’s team overcame Azerbaijan, both by identical scores of 3.5-0.5, to claim the coveted gold medals. This remarkable feat was crowned with India also clinching the prestigious Nona Gaprindashvili Cup for the second consecutive edition, marking a truly historic day for Indian chess.
A Historic Double Gold
India’s performance at the 2024 Chess Olympiad was nothing short of exceptional, with both the Open and Women’s teams dominating their respective categories. The men’s team scored a stunning 21/22 points, finishing four points ahead of the USA and Uzbekistan. This marked the largest gap between gold and silver medal winners since the introduction of match points at the 38th Chess Olympiad in 2008.
The women’s team also triumphed with a score of 19/22, finishing a full point ahead of the runner-up Kazakhstan. Who scored 18/22, while the USA secured the bronze with 17/22 points. Despite a setback in Round 8 against Poland and a draw against the USA in Round 9, the Indian women made a remarkable comeback to clinch gold without the need for tie-breakers.
Individual Brilliance
India not only shone in the team events but also took home four individual gold medals. In the Open category, GM D Gukesh, playing on Board 1, and GM Arjun Erigaisi, on Board 3. They delivered outstanding performances to secure individual gold. On the women’s side, IM Divya Deshmukh, on Board 3, and IM Vantika Agrawal, on Board 4, clinched individual golds.
- GM D Gukesh: Already a rising star, Gukesh continued his stellar form, improving his previous Olympiad performance rating from 2867 to an astonishing 3056. He is the One of the greatest individual performances in Olympiad history. With a live rating of 2794.1, Gukesh is now ranked World No. 5.
- GM Arjun Erigaisi: Arjun, who won silver in the previous edition, upgraded his performance to gold this year with a 2968 rating performance. He is Propelling to World No. 3 with a live rating of 2797.2.
- IM Divya Deshmukh: Divya, who had earned bronze on Board 5 last year, delivered an extraordinary improvement, elevating her rating performance from 2298 to 2608. She played all 11 games in the Olympiad and secured gold on Board 3.
- IM Vantika Agrawal: Vantika’s journey has been equally inspiring. After narrowly missing out on an individual medal in 2022. She made a tremendous comeback, earning her second International Master (IM) norm and winning individual gold on Board 4 with a performance rating of 2558.
Team India’s Golden Roster
The Indian men’s team comprised GM Sankalp Gupta, GM Srinath Narayanan (Captain), GM Pentala Harikrishna, GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM D Gukesh, GM Vidit Gujrathi, GM R Praggnanandhaa, and GM Vaibhav Suri. Their performance was marked by notable victories, including a 3-0 sweep against Slovenia. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Gukesh all secured wins, while Vidit Gujrathi drew his final game, sealing India’s gold medal.
The women’s team, featuring GM FT Swayams Mishra (second), GM Arjun Kalyan (second), GM Harika Dronavalli, IM Divya Deshmukh, IM Vantika Agrawal, IM R Vaishali, IM Tania Sachdev, and GM Abhijit Kunte (Captain), similarly showed remarkable prowess. Harika, Divya, and Vantika won their respective games, while R Vaishali secured a crucial draw to seal the gold for the team.
A New Era for Indian Chess
The double gold win in Budapest has officially marked the beginning of the ‘Golden Era’ of Indian chess. With this victory, India has not only secured its place among the top chess-playing nations but has also cemented its dominance in the sport. This win is India’s second overall victory in both the Open and Women’s events. And putting the nation in an elite club that includes Russia, China, and Ukraine.
As India’s golden generation of players continues to shine on the global stage. The 2024 Chess Olympiad will be remembered as a historic turning point for Indian chess. The future of chess in India looks brighter than ever, with the country’s young stars poised to dominate the world stage for years to come.
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