Chess Olympiad 2024: Indian Men Triumph, Women Suffer Narrow Defeat in Round 8

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Budapest, Sep 20: The Indian chess contingent had mixed fortunes at the 2024 Chess Olympiad Round 8 as they achieved varying results this time around.

The men’s team put up a dominating performance against Iran, while the women’s team fell short in a closely fought contest against Poland. The 8th Round was held on Thursday, September 19.

India Chess Olympiad 2024 Round 8 Scoreline

• Men's Team: India 3.5-0.5 Iran

• Women’s Team: India 1.5-2.5 Poland

Indian Men's Team Dominates Iran

The Indian men's team put up a stellar display, with GM Gukesh Dommaraju (2764) leading from the front. On the top board, Gukesh took on GM Parham Maghsoodloo (2723) in what was expected to be a closely contested game. However, Gukesh was in top form, outmaneuvering his opponent in a critical middle game and securing a decisive victory for India, giving them an early lead.

On the second board, GM Praggnanandhaa R (2750) faced GM Amin Tabatabaei (2714). Both players showed deep understanding of positional play, resulting in a well-fought draw. Praggnanandhaa’s solid performance ensured India added a crucial half point to their tally, keeping the momentum going.

GM Arjun Erigaisi (2778), playing on the third board, continued his fine form as he dominated GM Bardiya Daneshvar (2598). Arjun's calculated aggression and excellent endgame technique saw him win his match, adding another full point to India’s score.

The final game on the fourth board saw GM Vidit Gujrathi (2720) go up against GM Pouya Idani (2599). Vidit, known for his consistency, played a well-structured game and gradually outplayed his opponent, securing a third win for India. This comprehensive 3.5-0.5 victory solidified India's strong standing in the tournament.

Indian Women's Team Falls Short Against Poland

While the men’s team celebrated a dominant win, the Indian women’s team had a tougher outing against Poland. On the top board, GM Harika Dronavalli (2502) faced IM Alina Kashlinskaya (2490) in a tense encounter. Harika struggled to gain the upper hand, and Kashlinskaya eventually secured a crucial win for Poland, putting them ahead early in the match.

GM Vaishali R (2498), on the second board, came up against GM Monika Socko (2422). Vaishali was unable to match Socko’s experience and lost the game, further widening Poland’s lead.

The Indian team’s only victory of the round came from IM Divya Deshmukh (2483) on the third board. Divya showcased her fighting spirit, defeating IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (2404) in a well-fought battle, bringing India back into the match with a vital point.

On the fourth board, IM Vantika Agrawal (2370) took on WIM Alicja Sliwicka (2373). In a balanced game, both players agreed to a draw, adding half a point to the Indian score. Despite Divya’s win and Vantika’s draw, it was not enough to overturn Poland’s advantage, and the Indian women’s team lost 1.5-2.5.

India’s 7th Round Results

In the previous round (Round 7), held on Wednesday, September 18, the Indian men's team secured a crucial 2.5-1.5 victory over China in a hard-fought match. GM Gukesh Dommaraju and GM Praggnanandhaa R were instrumental in this victory, with Gukesh delivering a decisive win, while Praggnanandhaa held his board to a draw. GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM Vidit Gujrathi played out tightly contested games, both ending in draws, ensuring India’s narrow victory over the Chinese team.

On the women’s side, the Indian team delivered a commanding performance, defeating Georgia with a score of 3-1. GM Vaishali R and IM Vantika Agrawal were the stars of the match, both securing crucial wins on their boards. GM Harika Dronavalli and IM Divya Deshmukh also contributed with draws, ensuring India’s dominant win against the strong Georgian side.