India's Chess Teams Shine at FIDE Olympiad 2026

India's Open Team Triumphs Despite Early Setback

The Indian Open team, the reigning champions, kicked off their FIDE Olympiad 2026 journey with a mixed bag of results, securing a 3-1 victory against Thailand, despite a surprising loss from Arjun Erigaisi.

R Praggnanandhaa, India's top player, was rested for this match, allowing Arjun Erigaisi to take the lead on board one. Nihal Sarin, Gukesh Dommaraju, and Vidit Gujrathi filled the second, third, and fourth boards, respectively.

Arjun's defeat to Prin Laohawirapap could have significant implications for India's overall standing, especially since game points are crucial in this tournament.

Nihal Sarin opened the scoring for India by defeating Thanadon Kulpruethanon with ease, while Gukesh Dommaraju followed suit with a solid win over Faris Rashid Alriyami. Vidit Gujrathi also contributed with a straightforward victory against Tupfah Khumnorkaew.

Round 1 Results - Open Section

India 3-1 Thailand

Arjun Erigaisi 0-1 Prin Laohawirapap

Nihal Sarin 1-0 Thanadon Kulpruethanon

Gukesh Dommaraju 1-0 Faris Rashid Alriyami

Vidit Gujrathi 1-0 Tupfah Khumnorkaew.

Indian Women's Team Excels in Opening Round

The Indian women's team started their title defense with an impressive 4-0 win against the Dominican Republic.

Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, and Savita Shri Baskar all achieved comfortable victories, while Vantika Agrawal faced a more challenging match on board three but ultimately secured a win.

With Divya Deshmukh resting, Vantika was elevated to board three and engaged in a closely fought game against Mary Gonzalez. A critical mistake by Gonzalez on the 45th move allowed Vantika to trade queens and pave the way for pawn promotion, ensuring a flawless start for the defending champions.

Round 1 Results - Women's Section

India 4-0 Dominican Republic

Koneru Humpy 1-0 Franchesca Ramirez

R Vaishali 1-0 Miguelina De La Rosa Martinez

Vantika Agrawal 1-0 Mary Gonzalez

Savita Shri Baskar 1-0 Karla Mya Nunez Diaz.