Sun Sep 22 14:11:38 UTC 2024: ## India Makes History, Wins Gold in Open Event at Chess Olympiad
**Budapest, Hungary** – India created history at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, clinching their first-ever gold medal in the Open event. The team secured the victory in the final round, defeating Slovenia with a score of 3-1.
Young stars D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanadhaa led the charge, each winning their individual matches. Vidit Gujrathi contributed a crucial draw on Board 4, solidifying India’s dominance.
This triumph comes on the back of a string of remarkable individual successes for the Indian team. Gukesh, at just 17 years old, became the youngest-ever player to win the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Praggnanadhaa achieved the feat of defeating world number one Magnus Carlsen in the classical format at the Norway Chess tournament, while Arjun Erigaisi climbed to the top five rankings.
India’s women’s team is also in a strong position to win gold. They secured a 3.5-0.5 win over Azerbaijan in the final round. The outcome hinges on the result of the Kazakhstan vs. USA match. A Kazakhstan victory would result in a tie for first place, forcing a tiebreaker to decide the winner.
**Key Players:**
* **D Gukesh:** Star performer, with 8 wins and 2 draws in Budapest
* **Arjun Erigaisi:** Won against Jan Subelj in the final round, pushing India closer to victory
* **R Praggnanadhaa:** Contributed a crucial win on Board 2
* **Vidit Gujrathi:** Secured a vital draw on Board 4
**Looking ahead:**
The Indian women’s team awaits the outcome of the Kazakhstan vs. USA match, while the Open team celebrates its historic achievement. This Olympiad marks a new era of success for Indian chess, solidifying the country’s place as a global powerhouse in the sport.
First Piper 