India Shines at Chess Olympiad: Gukesh Leads Team to Historic Gold

World Championship challenger D Gukesh expressed his delight as India's men’s chess team secured their maiden gold medal at the Chess Olympiad. After several close encounters in past editions, the Indian team, led by Gukesh, dominated the tournament and also helped the women's team achieve gold, making it a historic double victory for India.

World Championship challenger D Gukesh on Sunday shared his thoughts after leading India to its first-ever gold medal at the Chess Olympiad. Gukesh, a pivotal figure in the team, stated that he didn't focus on personal achievements but was prepared to do whatever it took to secure victory.

The 18-year-old was instrumental in the men's team's triumph, defeating Slovenia 3.5-0.5 in the final round and securing their historic win. The Indian women's team also claimed gold, marking an unprecedented double victory for the nation.

Reflecting on the win, Grandmaster Gukesh said, "I feel great, especially with the quality of my games and how we played as a team. Despite many close misses in the past, we managed to dominantly win this time. I'm just super happy right now." Gukesh achieved eight wins in 11 rounds, a stellar performance that helped clinch the gold.

Gukesh also commented that prior to the final round, the team had been in celebratory spirits but stayed focused to secure the match result. He mentioned his disciplined approach, stating, "This time I thought no matter what, I'm going to do whatever it takes to win the team gold," underscoring the commitment and focus that drove their success.

Looking ahead, Gukesh will challenge China's Ding Liren for the world title, although he mentioned that his focus was entirely on the Olympiad during the event. He expressed confidence in his current form and hopes to prepare further for the upcoming match.

(With inputs from agencies.)