India’s men’s and women’s chess teams both won their first-ever gold medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad on September 22. The men’s team had a strong win against Slovenia, while the women’s team defeated Azerbaijan. This achievement highlights India’s growing strength in international chess, further solidifying its status as a global chess powerhouse.
The men’s team, featuring young and talented grandmasters like D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanandhaa, displayed their skills in the final round and defeated Slovenia 3-0. At the same time, the women’s team achieved a strong 3.5-0.5 victory over Azerbaijan, giving India a rare double gold at the prestigious tournament.
Indian Men’s Chess team shines at the Olympiad
The Indian men’s chess team had an amazing tournament, finishing with an impressive 21 points out of 22. They stayed unbeaten, with their only draw against Uzbekistan. This historic win in the open category was fueled by the outstanding performances of World Championship contender D Gukesh and his teammates Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, who stepped up when it counted.
In the final round against Slovenia, Gukesh played a key role in securing India’s victory. The 18-year-old grandmaster faced Vladimir Fedoseev and displayed his strategic skills in a tough match. Although it took time to win, Gukesh stayed calm and delivered a precise performance that clinched the victory.
Arjun Erigaisi, playing with the black pieces on board three, scored another important win against Jan Subeli in an unexpected Centre Counter Defense game. His victory boosted India’s chances of winning the title.
R Praggnanandhaa also contributed to the team’s success with a strong win over Anton Demchenko. His victory completed a 3-0 sweep for India, securing the men’s team their first gold in the open category.
🇮🇳 India wins the 45th FIDE #ChessOlympiad! 🏆 ♟️
Congratulations to Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa R, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna and Srinath Narayanan (Captain)! 👏 👏
Gukesh D beats Vladimir Fedoseev, and Arjun Erigaisi prevails against Jan Subelj; India… pic.twitter.com/jOGrjwsyJc
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 22, 2024
Women’s team completes the Double Gold
The Indian women’s team matched the men’s success with an impressive performance against Azerbaijan. D. Harika, Divya Deshmukh, R. Vaishali, and Vantika Agrawal led the team to a 3.5-0.5 victory, earning India its second gold medal.
Harika played a key role on the top board, showcasing her technical skills. Divya Deshmukh excelled again, defeating her opponent and securing not only the team’s gold but also an individual gold medal on the third board. After R. Vaishali drew her game, Vantika Agrawal stepped up and delivered a crucial win, confirming India’s victory and achieving double gold in the Olympiad. This win is especially significant for the women’s team, as it marks their first gold medal in the tournament’s history.
🇮🇳India wins the 45th FIDE Women's #ChessOlympiad! 🏆 ♟
Congratulations to Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, Tania Sachdev and Abhijit Kunte (Captain)! 👏 👏 pic.twitter.com/zsNde0tspo
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 22, 2024
A Historic Achievement
India’s performance at the 45th Chess Olympiad is a major milestone for the country. Previously, India won bronze medals in the men’s (2014, 2022) and women’s (2022) categories, but this time both teams took home gold medals, marking India’s place in the world of chess.
In the men’s team, Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa played crucial roles in their success. Meanwhile, the women’s team, led by experienced players like Harika and rising stars Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Agrawal, achieved a memorable victory for the nation.
PM Modi acknowledges team India’s double gold in Chess Olympiad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged Team India’s double gold victory at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad and said that “Bharat is full of energy and dreams.”
Historic win for India as our chess contingent wins the 45th #FIDE Chess Olympiad! India has won the Gold in both open and women’s category at Chess Olympiad! Congratulations to our incredible Men's and Women's Chess Teams. This remarkable achievement marks a new chapter in… pic.twitter.com/FUYHfK2Jtu
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2024
India delivered an outstanding performance at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, securing gold medals in both the men’s and women’s events on September 22.
Addressing the Indian diaspora at Nassau Coliseum in New York, PM Modi praised the achievements of both teams. “Bharat is full of energy and dreams. Every day we see new achievements. Today, both India men’s and women’s teams have won gold medals in Chess Olympiad,” he said.
