Budapest, Sept 23:   The Indian contingent made history at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, winning gold in both the men’s and women’s categories. This achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian chess, as the country secures its first-ever double gold at the prestigious event.

In the men’s competition, India triumphed over Slovenia in the 11th and final round, with stellar performances from D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa. Their victories ensured India’s dominance, leading to a historic win. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) officially announced India’s victory, congratulating the team comprising Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa R, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, and captain Srinath Narayanan.

The women’s team, featuring Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, Tania Sachdev, and captain Abhijit Kunte, added another gold to India’s tally, defeating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5 in the final round. Harika, Divya, and Vantika won their respective matches, while Vaishali secured a draw, positioning India for the gold medal.

Although India’s win against Azerbaijan was not enough to guarantee the gold, their championship was confirmed when the USA drew 2-2 with Kazakhstan, preventing a tie-breaker. FIDE then officially announced India’s double gold win, cementing the nation’s historic achievement at the Olympiad.

This double victory cements India’s place as a rising powerhouse in the world of chess, marking a monumental achievement for both the men’s and women’s teams.