Sun Sep 22 12:11:30 UTC 2024: ## India on the cusp of historic Chess Olympiad double gold in Budapest
**Budapest, Hungary:** The Indian chess teams are on the verge of making history at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, with both the men’s and women’s teams poised for gold medal victories.
The Indian men’s team, led by Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and P Harikrishna, sit atop the standings with 19 points, just one point ahead of China. A draw against Slovenia in the final round would be enough to secure India’s first-ever gold medal in the open section.
The women’s team, currently tied for first with Kazakhstan on 17 points, have a slightly better tiebreaker. A victory against Azerbaijan in the final round would guarantee them the gold medal, though they also need Kazakhstan to slip up against the USA.
The final round will see tense battles on all boards, with India’s young stars looking to cap off a memorable tournament. Gukesh, in particular, has been on a roll, including a stunning victory against World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana in the previous round.
Meanwhile, the Indian women’s team will be looking to capitalize on Divya Deshmukh’s impressive form. She has been instrumental in their success, delivering crucial wins throughout the tournament.
The Chess Olympiad is witnessing a surge of young talent, with 14-year-old GM Manon Reja Neeraj from Bangladesh making headlines with a win against Gorshtein Ido of Israel.
The final round is set to be an exciting climax to the tournament, with the fate of both gold medals hanging in the balance. Chess fans around the world will be glued to their screens as India bids to etch its name in history.
First Piper 