The Indian men’s chess contingent kicked off its campaign at the prestigious 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with a resounding 3-1 victory over Thailand. World champions D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi displayed exceptional skill to register stellar wins, though a late tactical slip by Arjun Erigesi prevented a clean sweep for the squad on the opening day of high-stakes international competition.
Brilliant Victories by Gukesh, Vidit, and Nihal Sarin
Nihal Sarin set the early momentum for the Indian side by outclassing Thanadon Kulpruethanon. Soon after, world champion D Gukesh showcased breathtaking attacking mastery to defeat Faris Rashid with black-and-white precision. Vidit Gujrathi sealed the team victory comfortably by overpowering Tupfah Khumnorkaev. Meanwhile, Arjun Erigesi held a commanding position for the majority of his match against Prien Laohavirapap using white pieces. However, a crucial miscalculation in the deep middle game dragged the duel past the six-hour mark, allowing the resilient 20-year-old Thai player to capitalize on the final error and force Arjun to resign. Top-tier global shocks were also witnessed elsewhere as elite American grandmaster Levon Aronian was held to a surprising draw by Iraq’s Ali Ehsan Aryan.
Indian Women’s Team Secures Flawless 4-0 Sweep
While the men’s team secured a 3-1 win, the Indian women’s team delivered a flawless 4-0 masterclass against the Dominican Republic to assert their dominance early in the tournament. India’s top-ranked star, Koneru Humpy, led from the front with a polished win over Francesca Ramirez Luzon. R. Vaishali comfortably defeated Miguelina de la Rosa Martinez, while debutant B. Savitashri easily dispatched Carla Mya Nunez Diaz. In a tougher contest, Vantika Agarwal grinded through a tense endgame against Mary Lolly Gonzalez Peguero, eventually utilizing her advanced passed pawn in a rook-and-minor-piece finale to secure the team’s clean sweep.