India’s journey in chess, once synonymous with Viswanathan Anand, has evolved into something far grander. A country that once revered a single grandmaster now basks in the collective glory of its young prodigies. The 45th International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad in Budapest marked the crowning achievement of this new generation. India’s chess masters not only created history by winning team gold medals in both the men’s and women’s competitions, but they also swept individual honours with four gold medals. The performance in Budapest, which saw India dominate on the world stage, is the culmination of a chess revolution decades in the making.
The victories of Gukesh Dommaraju, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi in the men’s category as well as the wins by Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal and Tania Sachdev in the women’s competition, were historic. It is a long way from the days when Viswanathan Anand stood alone on the global chess stage. Anand’s world championship victories, particularly in 2000 when he became India’s first world chess champion, paved the way for a new generation of players in a country where cricket has traditionally held a monopoly on sporting fame.
India’s rise in chess is not just a story of talent but of perseverance and innovation. The country’s chess revolution has been aided by the digital age, with online platforms like Chess.com and Lichess.org playing pivotal roles in democratizing the game. Many of India’s young grandmasters, including Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa sharpened their skills by playing against global opponents online, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced tournaments into virtual spaces. The 2020 Chess Olympiad, held online, saw India joint winners alongside Russia - a precursor to the Budapest triumph.
In Budapest, the Indian team did more than win—they dominated. The women’s team, led by Harika, finished with 19 points, edging out Kazakhstan. 18-year-old Deshmukh, who remained undefeated with seven wins and four draws, was praised by chess great Susan Polgar for her “amazing performance,” with predictions that this Indian team would stay on top for years to come.
Challenges persist. Funding, though improving, lags behind nations like Russia and China. Young players often juggle chess careers with educational demands. Sustaining dominance will need ongoing investment in infrastructure, sponsorship, and global exposure.
But for now, India can celebrate a victory that was years in the making. The 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest is a milestone not only in the annals of Indian chess but in the global chess community as well. The triumph, both in the Open and Women’s events, signals a new era where Indian chess players are not just competing with the best — they are the best! And in a game that rewards foresight, India’s chess future looks brighter than ever.
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