Chess Olympiad 2024: India suffer first loss, but ‘very serious about winning gold’

India suffers its first defeat at the Chess Olympiad 2024. (Instagram)

India’s streak of success at the 2024 Chess Olympiad was interrupted in the Women’s Round of 8 when they suffered their first loss of the tournament against Poland. The Polish team led by Alicja Slivka won with a score of 2.5-1.5, making India’s goal of winning a historic gold medal a bit challenging. Despite this setback, Team India is determined to win the top prize.

India’s top star players Harika Dronavalli and Vaishali Rameshbabu lost their crucial games in the match. Harika, a veteran Olympian, and Vaishali, one of India’s most talented young players, both suffered defeats, putting the team in a difficult situation. However, Divya Deshmukh has kept India’s hopes alive with a crucial win, showing her determination and strength.

However, all eyes were on Vantika Agarwal, who found herself in a must-win position to salvage a draw for India. Her game against Poland’s Alicja Slivica started as expected and Vantika even took an early lead. For a while, it looked like she could secure a crucial win for her team. But, after a crucial queen exchange, the lead slipped away. Slivica held her position and turned the tide of the match with a composed defence. The game ended in a draw, sealing the match in favour of Poland and handing India their first defeat.

Though the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, the team’s spirit is still intact. Divya Deshmukh exuded confidence in India’s ability to bounce back from this setback. Speaking to chess grandmaster Peter Svidler after the match, she said, “Even if we lose this match, I think we will definitely bounce back.” Her optimism reflects the resilience that has been the hallmark of India’s chess journey in recent years.

Indian men’s team continues its impressive performance Chess Olympiad 2024The team won over Iran in Round 8. Domraju Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi all won their games in an impressive performance while Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa drew the match. With this result, the Indian men secured 16 points out of a possible 16.

Former women’s world chess champion Susan Polgar lauded India’s performance so far and wrote on X: “Team India is very serious about winning gold at the #BudapestOlympiad. They have the same professional routine in every round. The team always arrives early. After the players fill in their scoresheets, they close their eyes and get into their routine to focus. Their routine works as they trounce Iran 3.5-0.5 today! 8 matches, 8 wins! A big clash with defending champions Uzbekistan tomorrow!”

India are outplaying everyone in the open tournament and look in great form. The team looks like a strong unit and has shown tremendous resilience and determination throughout the Olympiad, and they will undoubtedly want to come back strongly in the remaining rounds.

Chess Olympiad results of top games:

open:

(13) Iran 0.5-3.5 India (14)

(12) Hungary 2.5-1.5 Armenia (12)

(12) Serbia 1.5-2.5 Uzbekistan (12)

(11) USA 2.5-1.5 France (11)

China (11) 2.5-1.5 Romania (11)

women:

(12) Poland 2.5-1.5 India (14)

(12) Kazakhstan 2.5-1.5 France (12)

(11) Hungary 1.5-2.5 Ukraine (11)

(11) Georgia 2-2 Bulgaria (11)

(11) Uzbekistan 0.5-3.5 USA (11)