India Triumphs at Chess Olympiad, Secures Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy

India's Chess Team Shines in Samarkand

At the Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the Indian chess team, led by five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, was awarded the esteemed Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy. This marks India's third consecutive victory, following wins in Chennai in 2022 and Budapest in 2024, where they achieved gold in both the Open and women's categories.

The official X account of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced, "India wins the Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy! Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand presented the trophy to India for the best combined result across the Open and Women’s sections." #ChessOlympiad

Results from Open and Women's Sections

In the Open section, Uzbekistan emerged victorious, defeating Ukraine 2.5-1.5 in the final round, while India secured a silver medal after a 2-2 draw against Hungary. Germany took home the bronze. Both India and Germany finished with 18 match points and 28.5 game points, but India claimed silver based on their head-to-head performance.

In the women's section, China won gold by overcoming Vietnam 3-1, with Kazakhstan earning silver. India finished with a bronze medal after drawing 2-2 against Georgia in the last round. Savitha Shri played a pivotal role by securing a draw against Meri Arabidze, while Koneru Humpy achieved victory on the top board.

Outstanding Individual Achievements

India's overall success was bolstered by remarkable individual performances. Savitha Shri earned a gold medal, Divya Deshmukh secured silver, and both Vantika Agrawal and Koneru Humpy won bronze medals. In the Open section, D Gukesh claimed silver, while R Praggnanandhaa took home bronze.

Understanding the Gaprindashvili Trophy

Established by FIDE in 1997 and named in honor of the legendary Georgian player Nona Gaprindashvili, the Gaprindashvili Trophy symbolizes a federation's overall strength and depth across both sections of the Olympiad.