Chess Olympiad: Riveting Gukesh wins individual gold 2nd time in a row

India's star chess player D Gukesh won his second individual gold medal in a row at the Chess Olympiad on Sunday, September 22. Gukesh won 9 out of his 10 games at the top board guiding India to their maiden title.

In Short

• India won their maiden Chess Olympiad title in 2024
• India secured 21/22 match points in the men's tournament
• D Gukesh won the individual gold medal

India's D Gukesh won his second individual gold medal in a row at the Chess Olympiad on Sunday, September 22. Playing in Budapest, Gukesh guided India to their first ever Olympiad win in the men's division. Gukesh remained unbeaten in the tournament in 2024, securing 9 wins and a draw from his 10 matches on the top board.

Apart from Gukesh, India's Arjun Erigaisi was named the best performer on Board 3 with 10 wins out of 11 matches. The duo helped India gain 21 out of 22 possible points creating history for the country in the tournament.

Gukesh's individual performance has been nothing short of spectacular. He has demonstrated exceptional skill and maturity, traits that have been highlighted throughout his young career. In the eighth round, Gukesh defeated Iran's Parham Maghsoodloo with the black pieces, employing the Dubov variation in a Queen pawn game. This victory showcased his tactical acumen and ability to capitalize on his opponent's mistakes, particularly as the game entered the critical phase of the first time-control.

Gukesh's wins have propelled him to a live rating of 2785, bringing him very close to the coveted 2800 rating mark. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given his age; if he crosses the 2800 barrier, he will become only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to do so and just the 16th player in chess history to reach this milestone.

Chess Olympiad: India's historic double in Budapest

Gukesh's performance at the Olympiad has also underscored his status as a strong contender for the upcoming FIDE World Chess Championship. Having won the Candidates tournament in April 2024, Gukesh is set to face Ding Liren in the World Championship match in November. Ding Liren himself has acknowledged Gukesh as a favourite for the title, highlighting Gukesh's current form and higher rating.

One of the standout moments of Gukesh's Olympiad campaign was his endgame masterpiece against China in the seventh round. Despite China's strong lineup, Gukesh's long endgame grind secured a crucial win for India, maintaining their perfect score. This game exemplified his patience, strategic depth, and ability to convert small advantages into wins.

D Gukesh's Performance in 2022 Chess Olympiad

In the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad held in Chennai, India, in 2022, Grandmaster D. Gukesh delivered a performance that will be remembered as one of the most sensational debuts in the history of the Olympiad.

At just 16 years old, Gukesh was part of the India B team and made a profound impact on the tournament. He started the Olympiad with an unprecedented 8/8 score, a feat that drew widespread acclaim. His victory over former World Championship Challenger Fabiano Caruana, who was rated 2783 at the time, was particularly noteworthy. Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh outplayed and eventually checkmated Caruana, a performance that earned him a staggering 3366 performance rating for that game.

Gukesh's performance was likened to that of former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik’s record set in 1992, where Kramnik scored 8.5/9 with a 2958 performance rating. Gukesh's achievement was hailed as "one of the most sensational debuts in the history of the Olympiad" by FIDE.

This remarkable run not only boosted Gukesh's live rating to 2729 but also propelled him into the world top-20 and made him the second-highest rated Indian player, behind only Viswanathan Anand.

Gukesh's games were marked by his exceptional skill and strategic depth. For instance, his game against Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia, where he employed a unique attacking position by doubling his g-pawns, showcased his ability to exploit subtle errors by his opponents and convert them into winning opportunities.

His performance at the Olympiad was a highlight of the tournament, with many grandmasters and international masters praising his play. Gukesh's success was not limited to individual games; it also contributed significantly to the overall performance of the India B team, which had notable victories against strong opponents, including the top-seeded US team.

Gukesh's record-breaking score of 9/11 at the Olympiad, along with his exceptional performance at other tournaments, led to him being awarded the “Player of the Year” by the Asian Chess Federation.