NEW ELHI: India made history on Sunday by securing its first-ever gold medal in the 45th Chess Olympiad with key victories coming from D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanadhaa in the final round against Slovenia in Budapest.
World Championship contender Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi played crucial roles in helping India win its first title in the open category.
Facing Slovenia, Gukesh excelled in the technical phase of the game as black against Vladimir Fedoseev.
The 18-year-old Grandmaster showcased a tremendous strategic display despite the win being hard-fought.
Erigaisi also emerged victorious with black pieces on the third board against Jan Subeli, employing a surprising Centre Counter defense.
Meanwhile, Praggnanadhaa delivered a dominant performance against Anton Demchenko, securing a decisive 3-0 win for India over Slovenia with one game remaining.
The Indian men's team finished the Olympiad with an impressive 21 points out of a possible 22. Their only draw came against Uzbekistan, while they defeated all other opponents.
The Indian women's team also neared a rare double gold for the country with a 3.5-0.5 victory over Azerbaijan.
D Harika led the team with a strong performance on the top board, while Divya Deshmukh impressed yet again to clinch her individual gold medal on the third board.
After R Vaishali drew her game, the Indian women's team confirmed their win with Vantika Agrawal's outstanding performance.
India's achievement at the 45th Chess Olympiad marks a monumental moment in the country's chess history, showcasing their growing prowess in the sport on an international stage.
