India Shine at Chess Olympiad, Men Defeat Spain 3-1 as Women Dominate Mongolia

The Indian men’s team continued its strong run at the Chess Olympiad, defeating Spain 3-1 on Saturday.

With reigning world champion D Gukesh producing a convincing win over former world championship challenger Alexei Shirov.

Arjun Erigaisi gave India an early lead with an impressive attacking victory on the second board. R Praggnanandhaa was held to a draw by David Anton Guijarro, while Nihal Sarin also shared the point with Jaime Santos Latasa.

Gukesh, who had recently slipped below the 2700 rating mark, responded in style with his second consecutive victory. Facing Shirov’s Sicilian Taimanov, the Indian star gained control of the position early in the middlegame, particularly over the dark squares.

Under pressure, Shirov sacrificed a rook for a minor piece, but the resulting compensation proved insufficient. Gukesh opened up the centre at the right moment and converted his advantage confidently, wrapping up the 42-move encounter.

Arjun, playing with the white pieces, also made a decisive contribution. Against a Queen’s Indian Defence that arose by transposition, the game remained dynamically balanced through the middlegame before Arjun launched a kingside attack. His play created serious weaknesses around the black king, and a queen invasion on the seventh rank delivered the decisive blow.

In the women’s section, India also registered a 3-1 victory, overcoming Mongolia.

B Savitha Shri maintained her outstanding form with her fourth straight win, defeating experienced player Munguntuul Batkhuyag. World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh also secured victory against Bayasgalan Khishigbaatar, giving India an unassailable lead.

R Vaishali and Koneru Humpy later drew their respective games, completing another comprehensive victory for the Indian women’s team, which is aiming for its second gold medal at the biennial event.

Indian Results — Round 4, Open

India defeated Spain 3-1:

• David Anton Guijarro drew with R Praggnanandhaa
• Maksim Chigaev lost to Arjun Erigaisi
• Jaime Santos Latasa drew with Nihal Sarin
• Alexei Shirov lost to D Gukesh
• Other Key Results — Round 4, Open
• Uzbekistan defeated Türkiye 2.5-1.5
• United States defeated Ukraine 3.5-0.5

China defeated Serbia 3-1

• Germany defeated Poland 2.5-1.5
• Azerbaijan drew with Czech Republic 2-2
• Hungary defeated Israel 2.5-1.5
• France drew with Romania 2-2
• Armenia defeated Argentina 2.5-1.5
• England defeated Singapore 3-1
• Indian Results — Round 4, Women

India defeated Mongolia 3-1:

• Mungunzul Bat-Erdene drew with Koneru Humpy
• Munkhzu Turmunkh drew with R Vaishali
• Bayasgalan Khishigbaatar lost to Divya Deshmukh
• Munguntuul Batkhuyag lost to B Savitha Shri
• Other Key Results — Round 4, Women
• Uzbekistan defeated Argentina 3-1
• Kazakhstan defeated Armenia 3-1
• China defeated Hungary 3.5-0.5
• United States defeated Spain 3.5-0.5
• Azerbaijan defeated England 2.5-1.5
• Poland defeated Vietnam 3-1
• Germany defeated Israel 3-1
• Romania defeated Bulgaria 3.5-0.5
• Serbia defeated Iran 3.5-0.5