45th Chess Olympiad: Indian Prodigy D Gukesh Leads India to Historic Gold in Hungary

45th Chess Olympiad: Teenage chess prodigy D Gukesh led India to its first-ever gold medal at an in-person Chess Olympiad, marking a historic victory for Indian chess. After Gukesh defeated Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia in Hungary on Sunday, the nation celebrated this historic triumph, securing India's first-ever gold in the esteemed international competition. For the Indian chess community, this was a much-awaited moment as India  had previously only shared gold in an online Olympiad held during the pandemic.

D Gukesh: The Star of India's Chess Olympiad Triumph

D Gukesh has been a rising star in Indian chess, and his outstanding performance throughout the Olympiad solidified his reputation as one of the most promising young talents in the world. His crucial victory over Russian grandmaster Vladimir Fedoseev on the final day was the key moment that helped India secure its gold medal. At just 18 years old, Gukesh’s win symbolized the young chess revolution that India is currently witnessing, with several teenagers, including Gukesh, making waves on the global stage.

The Indian team entered the last round with 19 points, leading the standings, followed by China with 17 points and Slovenia with 16 points. Gukesh’s victory was essential to cementing India’s lead, as China dropped crucial points against the USA, clearing the path for India’s triumph.

Arjun Erigaisi and the Indian Team's Stellar Performance

Arjun Erigaisi, another rising chess star, contributed to India’s success with a spectacular win over Serbia’s Jan Subelj. Erigaisi’s consistent performance throughout the tournament has been instrumental in India’s rise to the top. Like Gukesh, Erigaisi has been part of the young generation of Indian chess players making a mark on the global scene. His performance, alongside the rest of the team, showcased India's depth in chess talent.

Throughout the competition, the Indian team—which consisted of Srinath Narayanan, Vidit Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, Pentala Harikrishna, and Gukesh—performed as a team with unity. India's first-ever gold medal in the Olympiad's open category was made possible in large part by this team effort. Given that India's greatest performances to date have been bronze medals in 2014 (in Tromso, Norway) and 2022 (hosted in Chennai), their victory is even more noteworthy.

India’s First In-Person Chess Olympiad Gold

With this victory, India has won its first gold medal in an in-person chess Olympiad, which is a historic first for the country. India last stood on the podium in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic at an online Olympiad. However, India took first place this year, making the victory even more noteworthy.

The competition in Hungary saw India dominate from the early rounds. Heading into the final day, India held a strong lead, and with China slipping in their crucial boards against the USA, India capitalized on the opportunity to secure gold.