Sun Sep 22 17:51:16 UTC 2024: ## India Makes History with Double Gold at Chess Olympiad
**Budapeșt, Hungary** – India has etched its name in chess history by securing a double gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad, achieving a feat last accomplished by China in 2018. The Indian men’s team secured their first-ever team gold medal with a resounding victory against Slovenia, while the women’s team also triumphed, defeating Azerbaijan.
The men’s team, led by the stellar performances of Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh, won the match 3.5-0.5. Erigaisi secured the first victory against Jan Subelj, followed by Gukesh’s win over Vladimir Fedoseev. R Praggnanandhaa contributed with another win, defeating Anton Demchenko. Vidit Gujrathi drew with Matej Sebenik, solidifying India’s victory.
Gukesh and Erigaisi also secured individual board medals on Board no. 1 and 3, respectively. This marks Gukesh’s second consecutive gold medal on Board no. 1 at the Olympiad, while Erigaisi upgraded his previous silver medal to gold.
The women’s team, with a dominant performance, secured a gold medal with a score of 19/22. IM Divya Deshmukh, GM Harika Dronavalli, and IM Vantika Agrawal defeated their opponents from Azerbaijan, while GM R Vaishali drew her match.
India’s remarkable performance at the Olympiad saw them win their tenth match out of eleven, setting a new record with a score of 21/22. This surpasses the previous record held by the USA and Ukraine who scored 20/22 at the 42nd Olympiad in 2016.
The victory is a testament to the strength and dedication of the Indian chess community. This historic accomplishment will undoubtedly inspire future generations of chess players in the country.
First Piper 