Chess Olympiad | India’s men and women are making some right moves in Budapest
India is the only team in either section to have won every match so far and will face China in the seventh round
Divya has been exceptional on the women’s third board.
| Photo Credit: FIDE
It is not often that a truly global competition featuring 180 nations begins with India as the top seed. At the halfway stage in the Chess Olympiad at Budapest, the Indian women have justified their top billing: they are in the sole lead position.
The Indian men have done slightly better than their seeding so far. Seeded second in the open section, they are also in the sole lead.
Another five rounds remain, but India is well placed to score a double – and even to improve upon the bronze medal it won in both sections of the Chennai edition two years ago.
🇮🇳 India emerges as the sole leader in both sections after 6 rounds!
🔥 India is going to the only rest day of the 45th #ChessOlympiad as the sole leader, having won all matches in both the open and women’s sections!
Both teams have been winning confidently, without experiencing… pic.twitter.com/yrU3hPW3T3— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 17, 2024
At Budapest, India is the only team, in either section, to have won every match. The men and the women have been brilliant so far.
The decision to play Arjun on the third board despite him being the highest-rated player in the team has proved right.
| Photo Credit:
FIDE
While everyone has contributed, two have been outstanding.
Arjun Erigaisi, the World No. 4, has won all his six games and that is not easy to do in a top-quality event like the Olympiad.
The decision to play him on the third board despite him being the highest-rated player in the team has proved right. On the top two boards, D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa have done well, too. So has Vidit Gujrathi on the fourth board.
Pendyala Harikrishna has delivered whenever his services are required as a reserve player. Arjun’s win in the sixth round was crucial in India’s victory against Hungary.
Like Arjun, Divya Deshmukh has been exceptional on the women’s third board, winning five games and drawing one. On Monday, while all her three teammates – Dronavalli Harika, R. Vaishali and Tania Sachdev – drew, she won her game to lead India to victory in the match against Armenia.
Harika, the strongest Indian woman in the Hungarian capital after Koneru Humpy chose not to travel, may have run into rough weather a bit, but her teammates – Vantika Agrawal completes the squad – have ensured the ship was steadied always.
When the tournament resumes on Wednesday after a day’s rest, the Indian women will take on the third-seed China, which has looked good even without its best players.
🇮🇳 India vs 🇨🇳 China in round 7 of the #ChessOlympiad!
Will we witness Gukesh D vs Ding Liren, an appetiser for the World Championship Match? 🤩
📷 Maria Emelianova & Michal Walusza pic.twitter.com/CdFbxMsTxA— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 17, 2024
China is also the opponent for the Indian men in the seventh round. That means a potential top-board clash between Gukesh and Ding Liren, who will battle it out for the World championship, starting in Singapore on November 3.
The standings after six rounds:
Open: 1. India 12 points; 2-4. Vietnam, China and Iran 11; 5. Uzbekistan 10.
Women: 1. India 12; 2-3. Georgia and Poland 11; 4-5: United States and Armenia 10.
Published – September 17, 2024 06:40 pm IST
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