India's Historic Achievement at the 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad

The 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad stands as a historic moment for India as it has marked the double gold achievement. Previously, India had only managed bronze wins twice in the men's category in 2014 and 2022, and once in the women's category in 2022. This major leap from unimpressive history to securing two golds in the Open and Women categories significantly lifts the stature of Indian chess.

Notable mentions among the gold winners are 18-year-old Dommaraju Gukesh, who is also part of the World Championship match, Arjun Erigaisi, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agrawal. Gukesh's stellar performance includes defeating three players who were 2700+ rated, making him one of the only four to ever achieve above 3000 in the tournament performance ratings in a classical chess tournament.

Divya Deshmukh, also 18, was exceptional, showing her mettle even in challenging situations. Through relentless aggression and strategic gameplay, she ended the tournament with eight wins and three draws, a score of 9.5/11, boosting her live ratings by 17.5 points.

While the individual achievements are remarkable, it's the collective effort that made the Olympiad gold a reality. In a sport often viewed as individualistic, the attainment of an Olympiad gold lists India among the revered chess powerhouses worldwide. Noteworthy is the fact that chess legends like Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen achieved fewer golds in the Olympiad, underlining the grandeur of this achievement.

This stride can be seen as the legacy of Viswanathan Anand, who has significantly contributed to India's chess landscape. The inspiring journey from a country with no significant standing in global chess to become a World Champion has triggered a wave of young talents steering the game forward in India. These remarkable achievements at the Olympiad stage are a testament to Anand's unyielding impact on Indian chess.