Chess Olympiad: Defending Champions India Face Stiff Challenge in Medal Race
What Happened
Defending champions India were held to a 2-2 draw by Azerbaijan in the eighth round of the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. All four Indian players, R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, D. Gukesh, and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, drew their respective games against Azerbaijani opponents.
Key Takeaways
The draw cost India a chance to close the gap at the top of the standings. India remained in joint second place with 13 match points, one behind leaders Uzbekistan and Germany, with only three rounds remaining in the tournament.