Chess Olympiad | Gold for Gukesh and Nihal; silver for Arjun

India 1 claims Gaprindashvili Cup for the first time

It rained medals for India following its best ever Chess Olympiad campaign here.

Though a bronze in each section — Open and women — was a first, India 1 claimed the Gaprindashvili Cup — a symbol of combined supremacy of a team in both sections.

Named after former Soviet and Georgian World champion Nona Gaprindashvili — the first woman to become a Grandmaster — the honour highlights India’s growing chess strength. India 1 finished ahead of close contenders USA, India 2, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

India 1 women started the day as a leader, missed the gold and finished with a bronze. India 2 men let slip a gold-winning opportunity following Tuesday’s heartbreaking draw with eventual champion Uzbekistan and took a bronze.

But soon this muted joy turned into a more expressed celebration when the Board prizes were announced.

The host’s share was a never-before haul of two gold, a silver and four bronze medals on the back of some sterling individual performances. India’s combined tally of individual medals was 10 before this unprecedented scoop.

Fittingly, D. Gukesh and Nihal Sarin won gold medals for their displays on Board 1 and Board 2. Gukesh, winner of the first eight rounds, became the first Indian to earn the honour. Nihal emulated Dibyendu Barua’s effort in the 1990 Novi Sad Olympiad.