India’s Chess Powerhouses Eye Gold at the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest

India’s chess elite are converging in Budapest for the Chess Olympiad, aiming for a gold medal in the sport’s most prestigious team competition. Although an Indian team shared gold with Russia at the 2020 Online Chess Olympiad under a different format, and has earned bronze medals in 2014 and 2022, this year’s squad has high hopes for a historic victory.

The 2024 Chess Olympiad in Hungary’s capital presents a promising opportunity for India. According to Srinath Narayanan, the Indian team’s captain, this is the strongest lineup India has ever fielded at an Olympiad. The team’s prospects are bolstered by their recent achievements, including a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games. Narayanan notes that despite the team’s previous success, the players have significantly improved over the past year, enhancing their chances of securing a gold medal.

The Indian squad features a blend of youth and experience. The team is led by Arjun Erigaisi, 21, who is ranked 4th in the world with an Elo rating of 2778. He is joined by 18-year-old D Gukesh, who holds the 7th position with a rating of 2764, and 19-year-old R Praggnanandhaa, who is ranked 12th with a rating of 2750. The team also includes Vidit Gujrathi, 29, ranked 24th with a rating of 2720, and P Harikrishna, 38, who is ranked 41st with a rating of 2686. Notably, the team will compete without chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who is currently 11th in the world, yet the team remains formidable in his absence.

Additionally, the Indian women’s team is also expected to contend strongly for a medal, despite not including Koneru Humpy.

The Indian men’s team boasts an impressive average rating of 2739, making them one of only three teams at the Olympiad with an average rating above 2700, alongside the USA and China. China’s team benefits from the presence of world champion Ding Liren, while the USA’s team is slightly weakened by Hikaru Nakamura’s absence. Magnus Carlsen will lead Norway’s team.

One of the key challenges for the Indian team is determining the board order, which will dictate the match-ups for each round. The final board order will be revealed on Wednesday. Srinath Narayanan mentioned that player comfort and the nature of the match-ups will influence the decision. The team’s depth means there are multiple viable options for each board, making the choice more complex but promising.

Training for a national team competition in a predominantly individual sport like chess requires a different approach. The Indian team previously held a training camp in Kolkata under Boris Gelfand before the Asian Games, but this year, they did not have a formal camp. Instead, they stayed connected through online meetings and focused on individual preparation. Srinath indicated that with the players’ ongoing participation in tournaments, a formal camp was deemed unnecessary. The focus will be on team bonding in Budapest, with potential activities like team dinners or gym sessions to foster camaraderie.

This year has been exceptional for Indian chess. Gukesh won the prestigious Candidates tournament, Praggnanandhaa achieved a notable victory over Magnus Carlsen in the classical format at the Norway Chess tournament, and Erigaisi broke into the world’s top 5 rankings. The year might culminate with Gukesh potentially becoming the youngest-ever world champion, but an Olympiad gold would represent a significant milestone in Indian chess history.

Narayanan expressed the team’s high motivation to win gold, highlighting the special significance of an Olympiad victory. The players’ preparation and drive reflect their commitment to achieving this goal. For them, an Olympiad gold medal would not only be a monumental achievement but also an affirmation of their dedication and skill in the sport.