India Secures Silver and Bronze at 2026 Chess Olympiad
India clinched a silver medal in the Open section and a bronze in the women's category at the 46th Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand.
India finished second in the Open section behind Uzbekistan.
The women's team secured bronze after a draw against Georgia.
China won gold in the women's category, marking their seventh title.
India achieved notable success at the 46th Chess Olympiad 2026, securing a silver medal in the Open section and a bronze in the women's category. The event took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where both Indian teams showcased impressive performances throughout the tournament.
In the Open section, India concluded the tournament in second place, trailing only the host nation, Uzbekistan, who celebrated their second gold medal on home turf. The final match saw India draw with Hungary 2-2. Notably, world champion Gukesh Dommaraju faced a setback against Hungary's GM Gleb Dudin, but GM Arjun Erigaisi's victory over GM Peter Leko ensured India secured the silver medal.
Uzbekistan's triumph was solidified in the final round as they defeated Ukraine 2.5-1.5, with GM Mukhiddin Madaminov delivering a crucial win against GM Roman Dehtiarov. Ultimately, Uzbekistan finished two points ahead of both India and Germany, with India claiming second place based on tiebreaks. Germany secured the bronze medal after defeating the Netherlands 2.5-1.5, thanks to GM Matthias Bluebaum's victory.
In the women's category, India’s team clinched the bronze medal following a tense 2-2 draw against Georgia in their final match. IM Savitha Shri played a pivotal role in this outcome, successfully saving her game against Georgia’s IM Meri Arabidze. This performance allowed India to edge out several strong competitors, including the United States and Poland, on tiebreaks.
China emerged victorious in the women's section, winning gold after a decisive 3-1 victory over Vietnam, marking their seventh Women’s Chess Olympiad title. Kazakhstan secured silver after a draw with Poland, further highlighting the competitive nature of this year's tournament. Looking ahead, the success of both Indian teams at the Olympiad sets a promising foundation for future international competitions.
