In a historic achievement, India secured its maiden gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad held in Budapest on Sunday. The victory was sealed in the 11th round match against Slovenia, thanks to stellar performances from Grandmaster D. Gukesh and rising star Arjun Erigaisi.

Gukesh, a World Championship contender, triumphed over Vladimir Fedoseev, while Erigaisi defeated Jan Subelj, ensuring India’s position at the top of the standings. Remarkably, even if India were to lose in the remaining two matches, they would still clinch the gold, as they only needed a draw in the 11th round to secure the title.

This milestone marks a significant moment in Indian chess history, reflecting the country’s growing prowess in the sport on the international stage.