India play out first draw but stay within touching dance of gold medal

In a battle royale of prodigies, the Indian chess team played out their first draw in the Chess Olympiad, this one coming against defending champions Uzbekan in the open section. While three out of the four games of the match had ended in draws very early, the fourth battle, Arjun Erigaisi versus Shamsiddin Vokhidov, raged on into the sixth hour and spanning 70 moves before Arjun finally offered a draw realising the futility of chasing victory.
The Indian women’s team, meanwhile, also ended in a 2-2 draw with Vaishali playing on the top board and losing to Tokhirjonova Gulrukhbegim, while Vantika Agrawal took down a grandmaster Irina Krush. In the rest of the two games, there were draws for Divya Deshmukh and Tania Sachdev, after losing in the previous round while playing on the top board for India, Harika Dronavalli, chose to rest for the ninth round.
In the open section, the game between Arjun and Vokhidov could have had massive ramifications for the final standings. If he had lost, Uzbekan and India would have been level on 16 points with two rounds to go.
INTERACTIVE: Follow GM Arjun Erigaisi (2778) vs Shamsiddin Vokhidov (2650) game from Chess Olympiad

But the draw ensures that India will head into the final two rounds of the Chess Olympiad with a slight advantage over the chasing pack. India have 17 points while the Uzbek team have 15.
The Indian team will possibly take on USA, the top seeded side in the open standings at the Budapest Chess Olympiad, in the 10th round which will mark one of the most important games for India as they have played all the top teams in the competition. Tournament rules dictate that teams can only play other teams once in the Chess Olympiad.
Just like the Indian team, who have teenagers like Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa besides Arjun Erigaisi, who is 21, the Uzbekan side at the Chess Olympiad is loaded with players who are just entering their 20s: Nodirbek Abdusattorov (20 years of age), Nodirbek Yakubboev (22), Javokhir Sindarov (18), Shamsiddin Vokhidov (22). Jakhongir Vakhidov (29) is the war-grizzled veteran for the team just like India have Pentala Harikrishna playing on the fifth board.
INTERACTIVE: Follow Javokhir Sindarov (2677) vs R Praggnanandhaa (2750) game from Chess Olympiad

At the previous Chess Olympiad in Chennai, Uzbekan had cruelly snatched away India’s chances of winning gold after Nodirbek Abdusattorov had defeated Gukesh. The win meant the young Uzbeks had claimed gold while India’s second team (as hosts India were allowed three teams) ended with bronze.
INTERACTIVE: Follow Gukesh (2764) vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2766) game from Chess Olympiad

There was no such drama on offer in the 9th round of the Chess Olympiad on Friday with Vidit Gujrathi drawing the first game with black, Gukesh then settling for a draw against Nodirbek after repeating moves and Praggnanandhaa then escaping with a draw after defending from a difficult position in the game against Javokhir Sindarov.
INTERACTIVE: Follow Jakhongir Vakhidov (2571) vs Vidit Gujrathi (2720) game from Chess Olympiad

For a long time after all the boards of the round involving Indians were over, Arjun and Shamsiddin Vokhidov battled on. Other players might have agreed to settle for a draw long back. But Arjun chose to fight on.
Meanwhile, in other games at the Olympiad, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen lost to Slovenia’s Vladimir Fedoseev, a day after being awarded the best player of the last 100 years at the FIDE 100 Gala. World Champion Ding Liren returned to action after sitting out two rounds, including against India, and played out another draw, this time against Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo.