Chess Olympiad: Top six finishes by India in Open category

India recorded their first podium finish in 2014 at the Chess Olympiad.

India’s presence at the Chess Olympiad has evolved significantly over the years and the journey is a testament to the nation’s growing prowess in the global chess arena. Over the decades, India have transitioned from being outsiders to a serious contender at the world’s biggest chess event since their first appearance in 1956. 

The Chess Olympiad, a biennial event, gathers the best players worldwide to represent their nations, and India’s performances in the open section have steadily improved, culminating in several top 10 finishes. These finishes reflect the rise of chess in India, led by stars like Viswanathan Anand and a new generation of grandmasters like R Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh D and Arjun Erigaisi to name a few. 

On that note, let’s take a look at India’s top five finishes in Open category at the Chess Olympiad.

6. 2004 Calvia, Spain – sixth

India’s sixth place finish at the 36th Chess Olympiad in Calvia, Spain, was a testament to the nation’s growing stature in the global chess scene. The Indian squad, spearheaded by Viswanathan Anand, delivered consistent performances throughout the tournament. India’s strong finish highlighted the squad’s growing capabilities on the global stage.

Anand’s brilliance, coupled with the solid play from teammates Krishnan Sasikiran and Surya Shekhar Ganguly, reinforced India’s position as a rising chess power. The result in Calvia laid the foundation for future successes, signalling that India was ready to challenge the traditional chess giants. 

5. 2018 Batumi, Georgia – sixth

At the 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, India delivered a solid performance, finishing sixth in the Open category. Led by the experienced Viswanathan Anand, the team performed consistently with key contributions from players like Pentala Harikrishna, Vidit Gujrathi, and Krishnan Sasikiran. Although the Indian contingent missed out on a medal, the event highlighted the depth and strength of Indian chess.

They competed fiercely against top tier teams like USA & Russia, showing their mettle in several high-stakes encounters. India’s performance in Batumi reflected their growing status as a chess powerhouse. The tournament reaffirmed India’s position among the world’s elite chess nations, and the players’ efforts were widely lauded despite the tough competition they faced.

4. 2016 Baku, Azerbaijan – fourth

Viswanathan Anand, the highest-ranked Indian chess player of that time, was one of the only two top-10-ranked players to not participate in the tournament. This left the Indian contingent with big shoes to fill in. The squad had Pentala Harikrishna, Adhiban Baskaran, Karthikeyan Murali, Vidit Gujrathi and Sethuraman Panayappan.

The Indian squad missed out on back-to-back podium finish and the defending champions China choked to the 13th place as the US won the gold for the first time in 40 years. 

3. 2014 Tromso, Norway – Bronze

The first time India finished on the podium at the Chess Olympiad was in the 41st edition in Tromso, Norway. The Indian contingent punched above their weight despite entering the competition without Vishwanathan Anand—the then challenger for the World Chess Championship—in the team.

The Indian team comprised Parimarjan Negi, Sethuraman Panayapan, Krishnan Sasikaran, Abhiban Baskaran and Munsunuri Rohit Lalit Babu. While China finished the tournament as comfortable leaders, India, Hungary, Russia and Azerbaijan — all four were tied as the next best teams on the table. Hungary and India won the tie-breakers, thus finishing second and third respectively behind China.

2. 2022 Chennai, India – Bronze

The 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai saw India clinch the bronze medal after a stellar performance on home soil. Fielding three teams, India B — a young squad led by GM Gukesh D – stood out with an impressive showing, finishing third in the Open category. Gukesh’s individual performance was remarkable, leading the board with a score of 9/11, while fellow teammates Nihal Sarin, R Praggnanandhaa and Raunak Sadhwani also delivered strong games.

The team demonstrated exceptional resilience and tactical prowess, fighting against several chess powerhouses like the USA and Uzbekistan. Their bronze finish was certainly a huge milestone, marking the rise of India’s young talent on the world stage. 

1. 2024 Budapest, Hungary – Gold

India followed up their bronze medal performance in Chennai with a historic gold at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. India clinched gold in both the Open and women category, a first for the nation in the history of the tournament.

The Indian men’s team comprising D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi and Pentala Harikrishna topped the charts in the Open Category, with Gukesh and Arjun also winning gold in the individual section.

Meanwhile, the women’s team of Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal and Tania Sachdev also won gold.

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