Sun Sep 22 20:11:32 UTC 2024: ## India Dominates 45th Chess Olympiad, Winning Both Open and Women’s Gold
**Budapest, Hungary** – In a stunning display of chess prowess, India claimed both the open and women’s gold medals at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest, Hungary. The Indian men’s team dominated the competition, finishing a full four points ahead of the pack and securing a statement 3.5-0.5 victory over Slovenia in the final round.
The victory was a sweet redemption for India, who narrowly missed out on gold in the 2022 Olympiad held in Chennai. Gukesh Dommaraju, Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu all contributed to the decisive win, showcasing individual brilliance and teamwork.
The Indian women’s team also etched their name in history by winning their first-ever Olympiad gold. After suffering a loss to Poland in round eight, the team rebounded strongly, securing victories against China and Azerbaijan, culminating in a convincing 3.5-0.5 win over Azerbaijan in the final round. This historic win marks only their second Olympiad team medal after bronze in 2022.
The United States secured silver in both the open and women’s divisions, with Wesley So’s victory over China in the final round securing their place on the podium. Uzbekistan, led by Shamsiddin Vokhidov, took home bronze in the open division, while the US women’s team claimed bronze, their first medal since 2008.
The 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad saw a thrilling competition with several other teams vying for top honors. Serbia and Armenia narrowly missed out on medals in the open division, while Kazakhstan, seeded 10th, secured a silver medal in the women’s division.
Individual performances were also noteworthy, with India’s Gukesh Dommaraju winning individual gold on board one and Arjun Erigaisi climbing to world number three. China’s Zhu Jiner claimed gold on the top board in the women’s division, while Israel’s Dana Kochavi achieved a perfect 8/8 score on board five.
The Olympiad concluded with India celebrating a historic double gold, demonstrating the nation’s growing dominance in the world of chess.
First Piper 