Indian Chess Teams Shine at 45th Chess Olympiad: Gukesh and Deshmukh Lead the Charge

World Championship challenger D Gukesh won against Fabiano Caruana, putting the Indian men's team in a strong position at the 45th Chess Olympiad. The Indian women's team also excelled, with Divya Deshmukh defeating Ni Shiqun, bringing them closer to gold. Both teams showcased impressive skill and resilience.

Grandmaster and World Championship challenger D Gukesh secured a critical victory against Fabiano Caruana of the United States, bolstering India's gold medal ambitions at the 45th Chess Olympiad.

Set for the World Championship in Singapore this November, Gukesh demonstrated remarkable resilience and prowess, particularly against top-seeded teams, defeating the higher-ranked Caruana. In a Catalan opening, Gukesh gained a decisive advantage, leading Caruana to make critical errors under pressure and eventually lose.

Earlier, R Praggananandhaa bravely faced Wesley So but succumbed, giving the American team an early lead. However, Arjun Erigaise excelled against Lenier Dominguez Perez, maintaining a winning position, while Vidit Gujrathi played solidly against Levon Aronian. Expect India to clinch victory with one round remaining.

In the women's category, Divya Deshmukh outperformed Ni Shiqun, leading India to a 2.5-1.5 win over China. R Vaishali's resilient defense secured a draw against Guo Qi, with D Harika and Vantika Agarwal also contributing to the team's success. With Georgia likely to win against Kazakhstan, the Indian eves are strong contenders for the gold medal.

(With inputs from agencies.)