Chess Olympiad: India’s Open and Women’s Teams Begin Round 2 With Victories

India made a winning start to Round 2 of the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand on Thursday, with both the Open and Women’s teams securing victories. 

While the women’s side produced a commanding 3.5-0.5 result against Finland, the Open team had to work considerably harder before edging Indonesia 2.5-1.5. The contrasting nature of the two matches highlighted the depth within both Indian squads, with several players producing important wins while the leading boards were unable to convert their games into full points.

The Open team entered the second round after a 3-1 victory over Thailand in the opening round, despite Arjun Erigaisi suffering a surprise defeat on the top board. Against Indonesia, India again had to negotiate a closely fought contest before eventually securing another match victory.

R. Praggnanandhaa returned to the Indian line-up after being rested for the opening round and was immediately involved in one of the longest games of the match. Playing Black against Susanto Megaranto on the top board, Praggnanandhaa battled through a marathon encounter that extended deep into the endgame. Neither player was able to establish a decisive advantage, and the game eventually ended in a draw after 79 moves.

The result meant India had to look elsewhere for the breakthrough against Indonesia. That breakthrough came from Nihal Sarin, who continued his excellent start to the Olympiad. Playing White against International Master Arif Abdul Hafiz, Nihal gradually increased the pressure before taking control during the tactical phase of the game.

Hafiz eventually resigned after 37.Nc5+, handing Nihal his second consecutive victory at the Olympiad. Nihal’s back-to-back wins have provided India with valuable points at a time when the team’s experienced players have had to settle for draws.

World champion D. Gukesh was unable to find a winning route against IM Satria Duta Cahaya. Playing Black, Gukesh reached a position that eventually simplified, after which the Indian star used repeated queen checks to maintain the balance. The game ended in a draw after 51.Qd1+. On the third board, Vidit Gujrathi also drew his game against IM Nayaka Budhidharma.

Playing White, Vidit reached a balanced position before the players agreed to split the point after 34.h3. With one win and three draws, India secured a 2.5-1.5 victory, adding another two match points to its tally.

The result follows the team's 3-1 victory over Thailand in Round 1 and keeps India moving forward with a perfect match-winning record after two rounds.

Women Produce Comfortable Victory

The Indian women’s team enjoyed a considerably more comfortable outing against Finland, registering a 3.5-0.5 victory. Koneru Humpy sat out the round, with Vaishali Rameshbabu moving to the top board. Vaishali faced a lengthy battle against Anastasia Keinanen, with neither player able to break the deadlock. Their game eventually went 88 moves before ending in a draw.

While Vaishali had to settle for half a point, the other three Indian players delivered decisive results to ensure a convincing team victory.

Divya Deshmukh defeated Johanna Paasikangas-Tella in 38 moves, providing India with one of its three full points. Divya steadily built her position before converting her advantage into victory, continuing her strong run as one of the prominent members of India’s women’s squad. Vantika Agrawal produced the quickest victory of the match. She defeated Sara-Olivia Sippola in just 22 moves, giving India another decisive result.

The third win came from Savitha Shri B, who overcame Helja Lehtinen in 31 moves. With three victories and one draw, India completed a 3.5-0.5 win over Finland. The result provided a strong response in the second round, with the Indian women’s team demonstrating its depth even with Humpy rested.

Elsewhere in Samarkand, Javokhir Sindarov also made a successful return to the Uzbekistan line-up after being rested in the opening round. Playing Black against Peru’s Diego Saul Rodri Flores Quillas, Sindarov produced a sharp 32-move victory. The Uzbek grandmaster steadily took control of the game before turning his advantage into an attack against the Peruvian king. Flores Quillas was forced increasingly onto the defensive before resigning as Sindarov’s pressure became decisive.

After two rounds, both Indian teams have now recorded victories in their respective sections. The Open team has demonstrated its ability to grind out results in closely contested matches, while the women’s team has shown considerable depth across the boards. For the Open side, Nihal Sarin’s two consecutive wins have been particularly valuable, while Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh and Vidit have all contributed half points in Round 2.

The women’s team, meanwhile, received decisive contributions from Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal and Savitha Shri B, with Vaishali’s long draw completing the 3.5-0.5 result. With the Chess Olympiad still in its early stages, India has begun its campaign with two match victories in both sections. The coming rounds will bring progressively stronger challenges, making consistency across all four boards increasingly important as the tournament progresses.