Chess Olympiad 2024: India's Double Gold Medal Finish Can Spur a Revolution | Opinion

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Call it a revolution or call it the arrival of youth on the big stage, India winning two gold medals at the Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, men and women is sensational.

Sample this, on a day when India won the Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai on Sunday (September 22), chess took over. Even for those not well versed with the game on 64 squares, the two gold medals won have aroused interest.

Contribution of King Vishy to Indian Chess

Perhaps, the King of Indian Chess, Vishy Anand may have jumped the gun on Sunday morning when he had tweeted news of the medal coming a few hours earlier. He did correct/clarify the tweet, but in hindsight, it appears even five-time world champion Anand was ecstatic over the results achieved. That one needed to wait till the last round on Sunday was making people tense. Chess Olympiad 2024: Indian Team Take Inspiration From Rohit Sharma to Celebrate Trophy Lift - Watch

When Vishy Anand won the World Championship for the first time in Tehran, almost 24 years ago, it was a historic moment. India had waited for the magical moment and when he returned to New Delhi, the press conference at a hotel in South Delhi was packed. Not many followed chess at that time, unlike today.

This has been seen as a very technical sport, though people have now learnt to understand the nuances, thanks to computers and laptops, where one can watch and learn so much.

For those still not familiar with the moves and strategies which have proper nouns, that the wins in chess are being celebrated is bound to increase the popularity. Online chess is massive around the world. Chess Olympiad 2024: India Women's Team win Historic Gold Medal

Historically speaking, chess was played even in the olden days in India when Rajas and Maharajas enjoyed "Shatranj." For chess to evolve has been phenomenal and only those clued into the various styles of conventional, rapid and blitz are no longer fans of this sport. King Anand is the path-breaker and what he has done for Indian chess is phenomenal. D Gukesh's Coach Bhaskar Reminisces India Chess Prodigy's Inspirational Journey

Understanding the Implications of Indian Triumph in Budapest

Anyone who has followed him will vouch he has spurred generations to take the sport. It is also no secret during the Covid pandemic, more people accessed online chess as outdoor sport was not allowed. The best part is, learning chess online and following games of the Grandmasters has been deconstructed. It is easy to understand with live commentary and so on now in vogue.

Sample this, Tania Sahdev, who is now more of a chess analyst and commentator was also part of India's triumph in Budapest. Compared to what youngsters like Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Agarwal showed in the Chess Olympiad, multiple times, Tania may not have been the toast.

But the fact she is still relevant and was there with a legend like Harika Dronavalli is important. For the record, Koneru Humpy had opted out of the Olympiad due to other tournament commitments in her career.

Why the win registered by the Indian girls and women is historic because nothing like this happened before. In 2022, at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, Indian women won bronze. From there to gold, the shift has been defining. Chess Olympiad 2024: Harika Dronavalli Celebrates Gold Medal Victory After 20 Years

It is bound to spur more girls to take to chess, where there is no dearth of coaches. India has many former greats (Grandmasters and International Masters) who are into coaching.

Plus, access to games online can see a further revolution. If that happens, it will be good, with women in Indian sports already making a big mark, across disciplines. Do not be surprised if there are more WGM - Women Grandmasters waiting in the wings.

Back to the victory from the men's team of D Gukesh, R Pragnnanandha, Arjun Erigaissi, Vidi Gujrathi and Pentali Harikrishna, these are class players. The way Gukesh and Pragannandha have been making waves is well known, what with his sister Vaishali also a strong player. She was also playing in Budapest.

Congratulatory messages are pouring in from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as Chief Ministers MK Stalin and Chandrababu Naidu. There is more to come with Gukesh set to take on Ding Liren in the World Championship final in Singapore (November 20 to December 15).