India Wins First Gold at Chess Olympiad

India has made history by winning its first gold medal in the 45th Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest, after D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi secured victories against Slovenia in the 11th round. Gukesh triumphed over Vladimir Fedoseev while Erigaisi bested Jan Subelj, ensuring that even if they lost the remaining matches, a draw was sufficient to clinch the title. The Indian squad, which also included Praggnanandhaa R, Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, and Srinath Narayanan, had a stellar performance throughout the tournament, winning their first eight matches. This victory marks a significant achievement, following India's earlier bronze medals in 2014 and 2022. The gold medal was confirmed in the final round, solidifying India's position over second-placed China, which dropped points against the USA.