India Survive Scare as Arjun Erigaisi Falls to Thailand’s Prin Laohawirapap in Chess Olympiad Opener

India began its campaign at the 2026 Chess Olympiad with a 3-1 victory over Thailand in the Open section, but the defending champions were given an early scare as Arjun Erigaisi suffered a shock defeat on the top board.

Most of India's opening-round assignment went according to expectations, with D. Gukesh, Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi securing victories against lower-rated opponents. However, Arjun’s defeat against Thailand’s International Master Prin Laohawirapap proved to be the standout result of the opening round.

Playing with the white pieces, Arjun entered the contest with a rating of 2759, while Laohawirapap had a rating of 2363. The 396-point rating difference made the result a major upset, but the Thai player remained composed throughout the game and gradually put the Indian grandmaster under pressure. The game lasted 54 moves, with Laohawirapap taking control during the closing stages. As Arjun’s king became increasingly exposed, the Thai player used his queen and rook effectively, repeatedly checking the Indian player and keeping him on the defensive.

The decisive sequence culminated with 54.Re3+, after which Arjun's resistance ended. For Thailand, it was a remarkable result against one of India's leading players and provided an early indication that even the most heavily rated teams could face difficult moments during the Olympiad.

Despite the setback on the top board, India recovered through its remaining three boards to secure the overall team victory. Nihal Sarin, playing Black against FIDE Master Thanadon Kulpruethanon, completed his game in 28 moves, finishing with 28.Rxe5. The 2718-rated Indian was able to convert his advantage and give India its first win of the match.

Vidit Gujrathi also played with the Black pieces and defeated Tupfah Khumnorkaew in 30 moves. His game ended with 30.Nxf2, giving India another crucial point. World champion D. Gukesh, meanwhile, was playing White against Faris Rashid Alriyami. Gukesh needed 37 moves to complete his victory, finishing the game with 37.Rxg5.

With Gukesh, Nihal and Vidit all winning, India secured the three points necessary for a 3-1 victory despite Arjun's unexpected loss. India had made a deliberate decision regarding its line-up for the opening round. R Praggnanandhaa was rested, with Arjun, Nihal, Gukesh and Vidit forming the playing four.

The result means India begins its title defence with a team victory, although Arjun’s loss will inevitably be one of the major talking points from the opening round. His defeat also underlines the unpredictable nature of team chess, where individual ratings do not always determine the result of a game.

Women’s Team Begins With Perfect 4-0 Victory

There was no such drama in the women's section, where India produced a 4-0 clean sweep against the Dominican Republic. Former world champion Koneru Humpy opened the scoring for India, defeating WCM Franchesca Ramirez Luzon in 31 moves with the White pieces. R Vaishali, playing Black against Miguelina De La Rosa Martinez, also completed her game in 31 moves to give India another full point.

B Savitha Shri then defeated Karla Mya Nunez Diaz with Black in 38 moves, before Vantika Agarwal completed the clean sweep against WFM Mary Loly Gonzalez Peguero. Like the Open team, India also rested one of its key players in the opening round. Divya Deshmukh was left out of the playing four, with Humpy, Vaishali, Vantika and Savitha representing India. The contrasting results between the two sections made for an eventful opening day for the Indian contingent. While the women's team enjoyed a completely comfortable start, the men's team had to recover from an early setback on the top board.

India enters the 2026 Olympiad as the defending champion in both the Open and Women’s sections, having won gold in both categories at the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest. For the Open team, the immediate takeaway from the opening round will be the importance of maintaining concentration across all four boards. The victories by Gukesh, Nihal and Vidit ensured that Arjun's defeat did not affect the overall result, but the upset will add an unexpected dimension to India's early campaign.

Arjun’s loss also gave Thailand one of the biggest individual results of the opening round, while India's other three players ensured that the defending champions did not suffer any damage in the team standings. For Gukesh, Nihal and Vidit, the opening-round victories provide a positive start. For Arjun, the focus will now shift towards bouncing back in the rounds ahead.

The women's team, meanwhile, could hardly have asked for a cleaner beginning. Four players, four wins and a 4-0 scoreline put Humpy, Vaishali, Vantika and Savitha into the next stage with maximum momentum.

The Chess Olympiad is a long team competition, and India's opening results underline precisely that. One unexpected loss on the top board did not prevent the Open champions from securing victory, while the women's side demonstrated the depth available across its line-up. With the defending champions now underway in both sections, the next rounds will provide a clearer picture of how India's title defence develops.