The chess world is gearing up for the 45th Chess Olympiad, set to take place in Budapest, Hungary, from September 10 to 23. This historic event marks the return of the world’s biggest multi-national chess tournament to Budapest for the first time since 1926. With a total of 193 teams in the Open section and 181 in the Women’s section, the Olympiad promises an intense 11 rounds of competition in the Swiss format, with teams vying for the coveted podium spots.
India, fresh off their bronze medal wins in both the Open and Women’s sections at the previous edition, enters the tournament as the second seed in the Open section. The team boasts a formidable lineup, featuring rising stars D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanandhaa, backed by the experience of Vidit Gujrathi and Pentala Harikrishna. With an average rating of 2755, India poses a serious threat to the top-seeded USA, setting the stage for a thrilling battle for supremacy.
The Olympiad will be played in an 11-round non-elimination Swiss system format, with each team paired against a different opponent in every round. The time control for both the Open and Women’s categories is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move one. Players are also permitted to offer a draw at any time.
The winning team in the Open section will receive the prestigious Hamilton-Russell Cup, while the champions in the Women’s section will take home the Vera Menchik Cup. The Federation with the best combined ranking in both sections will be awarded the Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy.
The tournament will be held at the BOK Sports and Conference Centre in Budapest. The first round pairings are as follows:
Open Section
India vs Morocco
Women’s Section
Jamaica vs India
For fans eager to witness the action unfold, the live streaming of the Chess Olympiad 2024 will be available on the FIDE YouTube channel. While there has been no official announcement regarding television broadcasting in India, keep an eye out for updates.
India’s Open Section Team:
* Board 1: D. Gukesh
* Board 2: R. Praggnanandhaa
* Board 3: Arjun Erigaisi
* Board 4: Vidit Gujrathi
* Board 5: Pentala Harikrishna
India’s Women’s Section Team:
* Board 1: Harika Dronavalli
* Board 2: R Vaishali
* Board 3: Divya Deshmukh
* Board 4: Vantika Agarwal
* Board 5: Tania Sachdev
With a strong team and a determined spirit, India is poised to make a significant impact on the Chess Olympiad 2024. Stay tuned for an exciting and competitive tournament as the world’s best chess players battle it out for glory in Budapest.
