With the overall match score trailing 1-2, the pressure rested on the debutant to salvage a result. Following draws by Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh, and a loss for Vantika Agrawal, Savitha Shri’s victory ensured the match ended in a 2-2 stalemate. This result keeps India firmly in contention for a medal heading into the final round, as the team currently sits in joint second place with 16 points.
Men’s team maintains momentum with dominant victory
While the women’s team fought for a draw, the Indian men’s squad produced a commanding performance to defeat the host nation’s second team, Uzbekistan (2), with a score of 3.5-0.5.
This emphatic win places the Indian men in sole second position in the open section with 17 points, trailing the leaders, Uzbekistan, by a single point. With Germany, Ukraine, and Hungary all sitting on 16 points, the final round promises a highly competitive finish to the tournament.
Tournament standings and individual performances
The individual form of B. Savitha Shri has been a standout feature of the women’s competition. Her win against Zhai Mo marked her eighth victory in nine games, maintaining an unbeaten record that includes just one draw. In the women’s team standings, China leads the field with 18 points, followed by Kazakhstan with 17, and India in the chasing pack.
In the open section, the race for the top spots remains tight. Uzbekistan leads the standings, with India holding the second position outright. The final round of the Chess Olympiad will determine the ultimate podium finishers, with several nations still within striking distance of the leaders in both the open and women’s categories.
