R Praggnanandhaa Leads Indian Men’s Chess Team to a 4-0 Victory Against Morocco in 45th Chess Olympiad
The 45th Chess Olympiad kicked off with a dominating performance by the Indian men’s and women’s chess teams, who both registered strong victories in their respective first-round matches on Wednesday. Leading the charge for India in the men’s section was 18-year-old R Praggnanandhaa, who set the tone on the top board with a commanding win against Morocco’s Tissir Mohamed. His victory, along with wins by Vidit Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi, and P Harikrishna, ensured a flawless 4-0 sweep for India against Morocco.
With India’s rising chess star D Gukesh resting in the opening round, Praggnanandhaa took center stage and delivered a powerful performance in a Sicilian Defense game. His opponent, Tissir Mohamed, struggled after the opening phase, as Praggnanandhaa established a strong king-side attack and capitalized on his advantage to secure India’s first point.
Vidit Gujrathi, playing against Jacques Elbilia, also put on a confident display. Starting with a King’s Pawn opening, Gujrathi quickly gained an edge by winning a pawn, which he skillfully converted into a comfortable victory. Arjun Erigaisi, ranked fourth in the world, faced more resistance but was never far from victory, securing another point for India. Finally, P Harikrishna faced a tough challenge from Morocco’s Anas Moayad in a closed Sicilian game, but his superior understanding of the position allowed him to eventually prevail, completing India’s sweep of Morocco.
In the women’s section, the Indian team also had a successful start, defeating Jamaica with a score of 3.5-0.5. R Vaishali and Tania Sachdev won their matches with relative ease, securing victories early in the time control phase. Vaishali, playing with the black pieces, showed remarkable composure in converting her advantageous position, while Tania Sachdev maintained control throughout her game, despite a brief mistake.
On the other boards, Divya Deshmukh faced stiff resistance but eventually emerged victorious, displaying the resilience and skill that had recently earned her the title of world junior girls’ champion. Vantika Agarwal, however, was held to a draw in a queen-and-pawn endgame, conceding Jamaica’s only half-point in the match.
The Indian men’s and women’s teams started the Olympiad with great confidence, highlighting the depth and talent within their squads. The men’s team, which is considered one of the top contenders for the title, showed no signs of complacency as they secured a perfect start to the tournament. Meanwhile, the women’s team also proved their strength, with solid performances across the board.
Elsewhere in the Olympiad, other top teams also kicked off their campaigns with wins. The United States, one of the top-seeded teams, secured a 3.5-0.5 victory over Panama. However, Wesley So, one of the U.S. team’s strongest players, was held to a draw in his game. Armenian-American chess grandmaster Levon Aronian overcame an early mishap in his game, ensuring the U.S. team advanced smoothly into the next round.
A total of 182 teams are competing in the open section of the Olympiad, with 99 teams winning their opening matches, securing two points each. Meanwhile, in the women’s event, 178 teams are in contention, with several more expected to join from the second round onward.