It’s not every day that a global competition involving 180 nations sees India as the top seed. But at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, India’s women’s team is living up to its top billing, leading the competition at the halfway point. The Indian men, seeded second in the open section, have also performed exceptionally well and are currently in the sole lead. With five rounds remaining, India is in prime position to achieve a double victory, potentially even surpassing the bronze medals they secured in both sections at the Chennai Olympiad two years ago.
What’s even more remarkable is that India is the only team, in both the men’s and women’s sections, to have won every single match. The teams have been consistently brilliant, but two players have stood out. Arjun Erigaisi, the World No. 4, has won all six of his games, a feat that’s incredibly difficult to achieve in such a high-stakes tournament. The decision to place him on the third board despite being the team’s highest-rated player has proven to be a masterstroke. On the top two boards, D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa have also performed admirably, as has Vidit Gujrathi on the fourth board. Pendyala Harikrishna has been a reliable reserve player, stepping up whenever needed.
Arjun’s victory in the sixth round was particularly crucial in securing India’s win against Hungary. On the women’s third board, Divya Deshmukh has been equally impressive, winning five games and drawing one. In the match against Armenia, she secured a win while her teammates Dronavalli Harika, R. Vaishali, and Tania Sachdev drew, leading India to victory. While Harika, the strongest Indian woman in the competition after Koneru Humpy decided not to participate, may have faced some challenges, her teammates, including Vantika Agrawal, ensured that the team remained steady.
The tournament resumes on Wednesday after a day’s rest, with the Indian women facing the third-seeded China. This match will be a tough test, as China, despite missing some of its top players, has shown strong form. Interestingly, the Indian men also face China in the seventh round, setting up a potential top-board clash between Gukesh and Ding Liren. This clash holds extra significance, as Gukesh and Ding Liren will also be battling it out for the World Championship in Singapore starting on November 3.
Here are the standings after six rounds:
Open:
1. India – 12 points
2-4. Vietnam, China, and Iran – 11 points
5. Uzbekistan – 10 points
Women:
1. India – 12 points
2-3. Georgia and Poland – 11 points
4-5. United States and Armenia – 10 points
