Both Indian teams returned to the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand with renewed focus following a mid-tournament rest day, securing essential victories in the seventh round on Wednesday. The open team successfully rebounded from their recent loss to host nation Uzbekistan, while the women’s side delivered a dominant performance to dismantle Germany.
The Indian men’s team faced a challenging encounter against England but managed to edge out a 2.5-1.5 victory. The result was anchored by decisive wins from R. Praggnanandhaa and D. Gukesh, who defeated Nikita Vitiugov and Daniel Howard Fernandez, respectively. Despite Nihal Sarin suffering his second consecutive defeat at the hands of Luke McShane, the team’s overall performance was bolstered by Arjun Erigaisi, who held Michael Adams to a draw.
India Maintains Competitive Standing in Open and Women’s Divisions
In the open section, Uzbekistan continues to set the pace, maintaining a sole lead with 12 match points after a 3-1 victory over China. India currently sits in a group of five teams—alongside the Netherlands, Germany, Azerbaijan, and Armenia—all trailing the leaders by two points. With four rounds remaining, the competition for the podium remains intense.
The Indian women’s team showcased their strength with a commanding 3.5-0.5 win against Germany.
