India created history on Sunday as both the men’s and women’s teams claimed their first-ever gold medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad. The men’s team secured victory over Slovenia, thanks to wins from D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanadhaa in the decisive 11th round. Meanwhile, the women’s team triumphed over Azerbaijan with a 3.5-0.5 score to clinch the title.
This marks a breakthrough for the Indian men’s team, which had previously earned bronze medals in 2014 and 2022. The women’s team had also won a bronze medal in 2022 in Chennai. The standout performances came from Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, who played crucial roles in India’s success in the open category. Gukesh showcased his strategic brilliance in his match against Vladimir Fedoseev, securing a hard-fought win. Similarly, Erigaisi’s impressive play on the third board against Jan Subeli helped solidify India’s victory.
Praggnanadhaa also delivered a dominating win over Anton Demchenko, ensuring India’s 3-0 triumph, with one game still remaining. The Indian men finished the tournament with 21 out of a possible 22 points, drawing only once against Uzbekistan and defeating all other opponents.
The Indian women’s team followed this with a commanding win over Azerbaijan, securing a rare double gold for the nation. D Harika demonstrated her technical skill on the top board, while Divya Deshmukh’s victory confirmed her individual gold on the third board. R Vaishali drew her game, and Vantika Agrawal added another win to ensure India’s dominant 3.5-0.5 result.
