look news india
New Delhi, September 21 (HS). The Indian men's team's winning streak at the Chess Olympiad 2024 came to an end on Friday after they drew 2-2 with defending champions Uzbekistan in the ninth round of the Open section at the SYMA Sports and Conference Center in Budapest, Hungary.
D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi drew their respective matches to help India remain on top of the points table. While world No. 5 Gukesh played hard and forced world No. 6 Nodirbek Abdusattorov to draw thrice, Vidit and Zhakhongir Vakhidov forced a draw within the first 10 minutes.
Javokhir Sindarov put tremendous pressure on Praggnanandhaa with his deep opening set up, but Praggnanandhaa eventually gained control and forced a draw. However, Arjun will be disappointed for not getting into a better position against Shamsiddin Vokhidov.
The Indian women's team drew their round 2-2 against USA.
India removed the out-of-form Harika Dronavalli from the top board and played with R. Vaishali but that did not change India's fortunes on board No. 1 as Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova punished Vaishali for overpressing. Tania Sachdev drew from a favourable position against Alice Lee while Divya Deshmukh played brilliantly to share the win with Carissa Yip.
Once again, Vantika Aggarwal saved the women's team as she brilliantly converted the Ragozin Defense of the Queen's Gambit Declined Game against Irina Krush.
The draw also meant that India slipped to second place with 15 match points, while Kazakhstan moved to the top with 16 match points, with two more rounds left.
In the Open section, the Indian team still holds a two match point lead over the second-placed team. USA is in second place, while Uzbekistan has slipped to third place.