India dominates Chess Olympiad with maiden double gold

HAIL KINGS & QUEENS OF 64 SQUARES

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India on Sunday scripted history in the Chess Olympiad as its men's and women's teams clinched their maiden titles in a rare clean sweep of gold medals after beating their respective opponents in the final round here.

The Indian men's team defeated Slovenia 3.5-0.5 while their women counterparts also crushed Azerbaijan with an identical margin in the 11th and final round in the 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad that concluded here.

Only China and erstwhile Soviet Union had won both men's and women's gold medals in the same edition of the Chess Olympiad.

Indian men had earlier won two bronze medals - in 2014 and 2022 - in the tournament, while the women had bagged a bronze in the 2022 edition held in Chennai.

The 18-year-old World Championship challenger D Gukesh and 21-year-old Arjun Erigaise yet again delivered in key games while R Praggnanandhaa, 19, regained form too in the final round to ensure a smooth victory for India in the open section.

On the fourth board, Vidit Gujrathi, 29, played out an inconsequential draw to give the team another resounding victory.