India's Chess Triumph: Double Gold at 2024 Olympiad

Historic Victory in Budapest

• India secured gold medals in both men's and women's team categories at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary (September 10-23, 2024).
• This marks India's first-ever gold medal in the men's (Open) category and the women's team's inaugural gold.
• India joins China (2018) and the Soviet Union as the only nations to win gold in both categories in a single Olympiad.
• The Indian teams displayed dominance throughout the tournament, with the men winning 27 of 44 games and the women securing victory in 9 out of 11 rounds.

Men's Team Performance

• The men's team, consisting of Arjun Erigaisi, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Dommaraju Gukesh, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna, won the Hamilton Russell Cup.
• They topped the points table with 21 points, followed by the United States and Uzbekistan.
• In the final round, India achieved a commanding 3.5-0.5 victory over Slovenia.

Notable performances:

• • Gukesh D (18 years old): Gold medal on Board 1 and World Championship challenger
  • Arjun Erigaisi (21 years old): Gold medal on Board 3

Women's Team Achievement

• The women's team, comprising Vantika Agarwal, Divya Deshmukh, Harika Dranavali, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Tania Sachdev, clinched the Vera Menchik Cup.
• They secured gold, with Kazakhstan and USA taking silver and bronze, respectively.
• In the final round, India defeated Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5.

Standout performances:

• • Divya Deshmukh (18 years old): Undefeated with 7 wins and 4 draws, gold medal on Board 3
  • Vantika Agrawal: Gold medal on Board 4

Additional Accolades and Individual Honors

• India retained the Gaprindashvili Cup for the best combined result in Open and Women's sections, becoming the second country after Russia to do so.

Individual board prizes for best performances:

• • Open – Board 1: Gold - Gukesh D (India)
  • Open – Board 3: Gold - Arjun Erigaisi (India)
  • Women – Board 3: Gold - Divya Deshmukh (India)
  • Women – Board 4: Gold - Vantika Agrawal (India)

Future Implications and Expert Commentary

• Former world champion Viswanathan Anand called it a "magical time for India" and an "unbelievable" achievement.
• The success of young talents like Gukesh (18), Praggnanandhaa (19), and Erigaisi (21) indicates a bright future for Indian chess.
• Four-time world champion Susan Polgar predicted India's dominance in chess for years to come.
• This victory is seen as the beginning of India's reign as the "best chess nation in the world."

Chess Olympiad Background

• The Chess Olympiad is held every two years, with the next edition (46th) scheduled for Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 2026.
• The event includes separate competitions for Open (men's) and Women's teams, as well as individual board prizes.
• The Soviet Union/Russia holds the record for most titles with a combined 24 victories.