Chess Olympiad 2024: 10 Indian Stars Who Secured Gold

Introduction: A Historic Milestone for Indian Chess

India made history at the 45th Chess Olympiad, winning gold in both the open and women's team events. Additionally, four individual gold medals—two in the men’s and two in the women’s categories—highlighted the nation’s dominance on the global stage.

This blog delves into the remarkable performances of 10 Indian players who brought home the glory.

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Open Team's Stellar Performance

The Indian Open team, comprising Pentala Harikrishna, R Praggnanand, Vidit Gujrathi, D Gukesh, and Arjun Irigasi, remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. With a near-perfect score of 21 out of 22 points across 11 rounds, they secured gold.

Key Performers of the Open Team

1. Pentala Harikrishna

   • The senior-most member of the team.
   • Played 3 matches, winning 2 and drawing 1.
   • Former Asian Games gold medalist with a career spanning over two decades.

2. R Praggnanand

   • Young prodigy who became a Grandmaster at age 12.
   • Played 10 matches, winning 3 and drawing 6.
   • His defensive consistency helped maintain the team’s strong performance.

3. Vidit Gujrathi

   • Played 10 matches with 5 wins and 5 draws.
   • Secured his first gold at the Chess Olympiad after contributing significantly to the team’s success.

4. D Gukesh

   • Played 10 matches, winning 8 and drawing 2.
   • Notable victory against Fabiano Caruana in the 10th round.
   • Won individual gold on Board-1.

5. Arjun Irigasi

   • Star performer of the Open team, with 9 wins out of 11 matches.
   • Won individual gold on Board-3, cementing his reputation as India’s rising star.

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Women’s Team Dominates with Team and Individual Gold

The women’s team also delivered an outstanding performance, securing gold with 19 points. Comprising Tania Sachdev, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Harika Dronavalli, Vantika Agarwal, and Divya Deshmukh, the team overcame tough challenges, including a victory over defending champions China.

Key Performers of the Women’s Team

1. Tania Sachdev

   • Played 5 matches, winning 2 and drawing 3.
   • A seasoned player and sports commentator, she earned her first team gold.

2. Harika Dronavalli

   • Played 9 matches, winning 3 and drawing 3.
   • Padma Shri awardee and consistent performer for over a decade.

3. Vaishali Rameshbabu

   • Played 10 matches, winning 4 and drawing 4.
   • Showed resilience with strong defensive play.

4. Vantika Agarwal

   • Played 9 matches, winning 5 and drawing 3.
   • Won individual gold on Board-4.

5. Divya Deshmukh

   • Played all 11 matches, winning 8 and drawing 3.
   • India’s No. 1 female player, also clinched individual gold on Board-3.

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Individual Gold Medalists from India

India shone in individual categories, securing four gold medals:

• Open Team Individual Golds:

  • D Gukesh (Board-1)
  • Arjun Irigasi (Board-3)

• Women’s Team Individual Golds:

  • Vantika Agarwal (Board-4)
  • Divya Deshmukh (Board-3)

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India’s Historic Achievement

The Indian teams' unprecedented success at the Chess Olympiad 2024 is a testament to the country’s growing stature in international chess. With rising stars and experienced players working together, the future of Indian chess looks brighter than ever.