NEW DELHI: India made history on Sunday as both its men’s and women’s teams secured their first-ever gold medals in the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
The men’s team triumphed over Slovenia, with victories from D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Rameshbabu Praggnanadhaa in the crucial 11th and final round.
The women’s team clinched their title by defeating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5.
Previously, the Indian men had earned two bronze medals in 2014 and 2022 in the tournament.
The Indian women also secured a bronze in the 2022 edition held in Chennai.
Thanks to World Championship challenger Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, who excelled in key games, India captured its first title in the open category.
Facing Slovenia, Gukesh showcased exceptional skills with black pieces against Vladimir Fedoseev, delivering a well-fought victory.
Erigaisi also emerged victorious with black pieces on the third board, implementing a surprising Centre Counter defense against Jan Subeli.
Additionally, Praggnanadhaa was in excellent form, achieving a decisive win over Anton Demchenko, leading India to a commanding 3-0 triumph with a game still left to play.
The Indian men’s team finished with an impressive 21 points out of a possible 22, only conceding a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan while defeating all other opponents.
The Indian women then made it a double win for the nation, securing a 3.5-0.5 victory over Azerbaijan.
D Harika performed superbly on the top board, and Divya Deshmukh again dominated her opponent to confirm her individual gold medal on the third board.
Rameshbabu Vaishali drew her game, ensuring the team’s victory, followed by Vantika Agrawal’s brilliant win.
The dual triumph marks a historic achievement for India in the international chess stage.
