Chess Olympiad 2022: Unstoppable Gukesh hits 8/8 as India shock favourites USA in open section

Indias Open Team Bs D Gukesh in action against Fabiano Caruana of USA during Round 8 of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu on Saturday. Photo credit - Stev Bonhage — India's Open Team B's D Gukesh in action against Fabiano Caruana of USA during Round 8 of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu on Saturday. Photo credit - Stev Bonhage

Mamallapuram, Aug 6: Continuing his imperious form young Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh recorded a stunning eighth successive win as India B thrashed the star-studded USA in a massive upset at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Mamallapuram on Saturday (August 6).

A team, comprising four dangerous debutants-Gukesh, Raunak Sadhwani, Nihal Sarin, and R Praggnanandhaa, shocked the top-seeded and strong contender for the title, USA comfortably by a 3-1 score in the open section eighth-round encounter.

Extending his sensational unbeaten run at the prestigious tournament, the 16-year-old Gukesh upstaged the former World Championship Challenger Fabiano Caruana in a critical game on the top board.

This was one of the most impressive debuts in the history of the Olympiad. Only the former world champion Vladimir Kramnik set a record of 8.5/9 in 1992, clocking a 2958 rating performance. Till the seventh round, Gukesh had clocked a 3300-plus performance.

Sadhwani also played brilliantly to defeat much higher-rated Leinier Perez Dominguez while Sarin and Praggnanandhaa held other strong opponents, Levon Aronian and Wesley So respectively with almost effortless ease.

Member of Indias Open Team B Raunak Sadhwani in action during at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. Photo credit - Lennart Ootes — Member of India's Open Team B Raunak Sadhwani in action during at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. Photo credit - Lennart Ootes

"From the beginning, we had all intention of figuring in the Top-3 and with Gukesh going such great guns, it very much looks a possibility," said a thrilled RB Ramesh, the coach of India B.

"Fabiano is my favourite player and it was a pleasure to be pitted against him. Initially, I was caught in the opening as it went along unfamiliar lines for me. I was slightly worse. After he played a dubious move, I got back into the game," said Gukesh, who clinched the game on the 45th turn. He had three extra pieces on the board which indicates his sheer dominance.

(FIDE)