Gone are the days when India used to come in the headlines in chess only because of Viswanthan Anand. This year, India has achieved impressive feats in chess. At points in time, making it a general topic and a talking point among not only the fans but the people of the country as well. India this year had a historic year, where a lot of things just happened for the first time. When I am talking about a great year, it’s just not Gukesh’s triumph at the World Chess Championship, but there are several outstanding achievements that India has achieved so far in 2024. Let’s take a look at the special achievements Indian players have achieved in the world of chess.
Historic Chess Olympiad campaign
India won the Chess Olympiad for the first time in Budapest, Hungary. What made it more special is that both men’s and women’s teams succeeded, and the country won a total of six gold medals in the team and individual competitions. India defeated Slovenia in the men’s team category final. Their women’s counterparts overcame Azerbaijan, joining China and the former Soviet Union as the only three nations to win both men’s and women’s gold medals in the same edition of the event. Individual gold medallists included D Gukesh (Board 1), Arjun Erigaisi (Board 3), Divya Deshmukh (Board 3), and Vantika Agarwal (Board 4).
India gets first FIDE Candidates winner in 2024
Grandmaster Gukesh D won the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament, bringing an end to India’s draught. In 187 years, he became the youngest winner of the FIDE Candidates Tournament. To understand the enormity of Gukesh’s accomplishments, consider that the Candidates included some of the world’s best chess players. Hikaru Nakamura (USA), lan Nepomniachtchi (Russia), and Fabiano Caruana (USA) competed in the tournament. Gukesh became the first candidate to win since Viswanathan Anand in 2014. The Candidates allowed Gukesh to challenge China’s then-World Champion, Ding Liren.
Gukesh ruled the chess universe
When Gukesh defeated Ding Liren to win the World Chess Championship, Chinese chess reached its peak. Gukesh broke Garry Kasparov’s long-standing record as the youngest World Champion in chess history at the age of just 18. Gukesh followed Viswanathan Anand as the second Indian to win the World Champion title with this victory.
Pragnnanandha beats five-time world champion
Prodigy R Praggnanandhaa of India defeated chess champion Magnus Carlsen. The Chennaiyan defeated the five-time World Chess Champion. In the classical chess format, Praggnanandhaa triumphed over Carlsen at the Norway Chess competition.
Arjun Erigaisi becomes the second-ever Indian to get 2800 Elo Rating
After Viswanathan Anand, Arjun Erigaisi of India became the second Indian to surpass the 2800 Elo rating points. In the fifth round of the 2024 European Chess Club Cup, the Indian accomplished this uncommon feat by defeating Dmitry Andreikin of Russia. Additionally, he was the fifteenth Grandmaster in chess history to surpass this milestone.
Koneru Humpy ends \year with FIDE World Rapid Championship
India’s Koneru Humpy won the FIDE World Rapid Championship 2024 in New York. She defeated Indonesia’s Irine Kharisma Sukandar in Round 11 to clinch the title. This victory marked Humpy’s second World Rapid Championship title. This is her second win as earlier, s he first won in 2019 in Moscow.
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