The emphatic victory lifted India to 17 match points, leaving them just one point behind leaders Uzbekistan with one round remaining in Samarkand.
BY Navin Upadhyay
September 26: Defending champions India produced one of their most emphatic performances of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, crushing hosts Uzbekistan’s second team 3½–½ in Round 10 on Saturday to move into sole second place with one round remaining.
The commanding victory took India to 17 match points, one behind leaders Uzbekistan, who strengthened their grip on the top position with a 3½–½ victory over Armenia. Uzbekistan 2, who had entered the round on 15 match points after a sensational 3½–½ demolition of the Netherlands in Round 9, remained on 15.
India’s victory was built on wins by R. Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin and world champion D. Gukesh, while Arjun Erigaisi held his opponent to the only draw of the match.
India retained the same four-player combination that had defeated Germany 2½–1½ in Round 9 — Praggnanandhaa, Arjun, Nihal and Gukesh. The decision paid off handsomely as the Indian top order overwhelmed Uzbekistan 2.
The hosts’ second team fielded Jakhongir Vakhidov, Abdimalik Abdisalimov, Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov and Ortik Nigmatov. On rating, the contest heavily favoured India: all four Indian players were rated above 2700, while Abdisalimov, at 2548, was the highest-rated player in Uzbekistan 2.
But the Uzbek reserve side had shown it could not be taken lightly. A day earlier, it had stunned the Netherlands 3½–½, with Vakhidov defeating Dutch star Anish Giri and Suyarov and Nigmatov also scoring victories.
Praggnanandhaa strikes first
On Board 1, Praggnanandhaa, playing Black against Vakhidov, converted his considerable rating advantage into a full point. Vakhidov had been one of the heroes of Uzbekistan 2’s victory over the Netherlands, but he was unable to repeat that feat against India’s top-board player.
The victory continued Praggnanandhaa’s steady contribution to India’s campaign. He had earlier drawn with Nodirbek Abdusattorov in India’s 2½–1½ loss to Uzbekistan’s first team in Round 6.
Arjun settles for a draw
Arjun Erigaisi, playing White against Abdisalimov, was the only Indian player who failed to score a full point. The two players eventually split the point, leaving India needing only one more decisive result to secure the match.
Arjun’s half-point also continued a relatively quiet individual tournament for the Indian grandmaster, who had suffered an unexpected opening-round defeat before recovering with a series of solid results.
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Nihal makes a strong comeback
On Board 3, Nihal Sarin defeated Suyarov with the black pieces, adding a second full point for India.
The victory was particularly significant for Nihal, who had endured a difficult middle phase of the Olympiad. His loss to Nodirbek Yakubboev on Board 3 had decided India’s only defeat of the tournament so far, when Uzbekistan’s first team won their Round 6 clash 2½–1½. The other three boards in that match were drawn.
Suyarov, meanwhile, had also entered the match in confident form after defeating veteran Dutch grandmaster Loek van Wely in the previous round.
Gukesh finishes the job
World champion Gukesh supplied India’s third win, defeating Ortik Nigmatov on Board 4.
The result extended Gukesh’s outstanding run in Samarkand. He had produced the decisive moment in India’s 2½–1½ victory over Germany in Round 9, finding the spectacular 51…Nf4!! against Alexander Donchenko after appearing to be in serious trouble. That victory had lifted India into second place going into the penultimate round.
Gukesh’s latest victory maintained his unbeaten record in the Olympiad and took his individual tally further upward.
India back within one point of Uzbekistan
The 3½–½ victory leaves the Open section finely poised with just one round remaining.
- Uzbekistan — 18 match points
- India — 17
- Uzbekistan 2 and the chasing teams — 15 or fewer
India’s only match loss remains the 1½–2½ defeat against Uzbekistan’s first team in Round 6, when Yakubboev defeated Nihal in the deciding game.
India now enters Sunday’s final round just one match point behind the leaders. A victory would take the defending champions to 19 points and keep them firmly in contention for the gold medal.
Uzbekistan, meanwhile, remain in control of the standings after another convincing victory on the top table. The hosts had already taken sole lead after defeating the United States 2½–1½ in Round 9, while their second team had simultaneously produced the major upset against the Netherlands.
For India, however, the message from Round 10 was clear: after the setback against the hosts in Round 6, the defending champions have recovered strongly and will go into the final day within striking distance of the leaders.
The 11-round Olympiad concludes on September 27 in Samarkand.
