Indian Chess Prodigies Gear Up for Budapest Chess Olympiad

Indian chess talents D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa will compete in the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, in September. Gukesh, who has had a stellar year, will use the event as preparation for the World Chess Championship against Ding Liren. India's roster also features prominent players and a pre-event training camp is planned.

Indian chess prodigies D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa are set to participate in the forthcoming Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, scheduled for September.

Gukesh will use this opportunity as a practice run ahead of his World Chess Championship face-off against China's defending champion Ding Liren in November. This young chess master, only 18, showcased remarkable talent by winning the prestigious Candidates event in Toronto earlier this year, setting a record as the youngest contender for the World Championship final.

According to the All India Chess Federation (AICF) President Nitin Narang, the Indian team will also include Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Harikrishna Pentala. The women's team will feature Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev. Notably, Grandmaster Koneru Humpy, who clinched a bronze medal last year, is absent from the team for undisclosed reasons.

Narang further revealed plans to hold a pre-event training camp with coaches, likely at the end of August, with the date and venue to be finalized soon.

The previous edition of the Olympiad, hosted by India in 2022, saw the country clinch bronze medals in both the Open and Women's categories. This 45th edition marks Hungary's official turn to host the prestigious event, previously hosting an unofficial version in 1926.

(With inputs from agencies.)