Sun Sep 22 12:00:55 UTC 2024: ## Indian Chess Teams on the Verge of Historic Gold at Chess Olympiad

**Budapest, Hungary:** The Indian chess teams are on the brink of history at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The men’s team, currently leading the open section with 19 points, needs only a draw against Slovenia in the final round to secure their first-ever gold medal.

Meanwhile, the women’s team, tied for first with Kazakhstan at 17 points, will face Azerbaijan in a tense final round. They will need a win and hope Kazakhstan slips up to claim the gold.

The Indian men’s team’s success can largely be attributed to the stellar performances of Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, who have been instrumental in securing crucial victories. Gukesh, in particular, has had a sensational tournament, including a win against World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana.

The women’s team has also been impressive, with Divya Deshmukh emerging as a key player.

The final round promises to be a nail-biting affair, with intense pressure on both teams. Fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting the final results, hoping for a historic double gold for India.

**A Carpenter’s Dream:**

Amidst the excitement of the current Olympiad, a piece of Indian chess history was revisited. Amit Kamath, a chess journalist, penned a moving story about Mohamed Rafiq Khan, India’s first-ever chess Olympiad medalist. Khan, a carpenter by profession, learned chess in Bhopal and despite never achieving grandmaster status, earned the affectionate title “Ustaad” amongst Madhya Pradesh chess players. He won a silver medal for India at the 1980 Olympiad in Malta.

**International Recognition:**

Hikaru Nakamura, a renowned chess player who skipped the Budapest Olympiad, praised Viswanathan Anand’s contributions to the growth of Indian chess. He tweeted, “It is truly unfathomable how this kid would come from a country with no chess culture and not only become World Champion, but inspire generations of Indian kids to push chess forward.”

The world is watching as India stands on the cusp of a historic achievement at the Chess Olympiad. The final round will be a test of skill, strategy, and nerve for both Indian teams.

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