Fri Sep 20 03:49:05 UTC 2024: ## India Dominates Open Chess Olympiad, Women’s Team Suffers First Loss

**Chennai, India** – The Indian men’s chess team continues to dominate the 45th Chess Olympiad, securing a resounding 3.5-0.5 victory against Iran in Round 8. Meanwhile, the Indian women’s team suffered their first defeat of the tournament, losing to Poland 2.5-1.5.

The men’s team remains undefeated and is on track for another gold medal. Arjun Erigaisi, who won his game against Daneshvar, is leading the team with 7.5 points out of 8, and is on the verge of becoming a 2800+ rated player. Gukesh D, with 6.5 points, is also excelling and currently holds a rating of 2784.

The Indian women’s team, however, faced a tough challenge from Poland. Alina Kashlinskaya and Monica Socko secured victories for Poland on the top boards, defeating Harika Dronavalli and Vaishali R respectively.

While Divya Deshmukh (7/8) salvaged a point for India with a win on board 3, Vantika Agrawal missed a winning opportunity in her game against Alicja Sliwicka, settling for a draw. Despite the setback, Deshmukh remains optimistic, stating, “If we lose this, I think we will for sure bounce back.”

The women’s tournament is now a three-way tie between India, Poland, and Kazakhstan, all with 14 match points. The USA, Armenia, and Ukraine trail by one point.

In other notable matches, the USA defeated Uzbekistan by a large margin, while Armenia triumphed against Mongolia. Anna Ushenina clinched victory for Ukraine over Hungary.

The final rounds of the women’s tournament promise to be exciting, with several teams vying for a podium finish. The men’s team, meanwhile, will face a crucial match against Uzbekistan in Round 9, who will be aiming for another chance at the gold medal.

**Key Takeaways:**

* India’s men’s team is on a winning streak, securing a dominant victory against Iran.
* Arjun Erigaisi is the top performer for the Indian men’s team, close to breaking the 2800 barrier.
* India’s women’s team suffered their first loss, losing to Poland.
* The women’s tournament is now a three-way tie between India, Poland, and Kazakhstan.
* The final rounds of both the men’s and women’s tournaments are expected to be highly competitive.

**Full results and photos are available on the official Chess Olympiad website and FIDE Flickr.**

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