NEW DELHI, Sept 29: India completed a successful campaign at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, winning silver in the open section and bronze in the women’s competition as the biennial team championship concluded on September 27.
The results gave India medals in both major sections, although the country could not retain the open and women’s titles it had secured at the previous Olympiad in Budapest in 2024. Uzbekistan won the open gold on home soil, while China topped the women’s standings. Germany finished third in the open section and Kazakhstan took silver in the women’s event.
India’s open team finished the 11 round competition with 18 match points. The final round saw India draw with Hungary, leaving the defending champions with the silver medal behind Uzbekistan.
The result continued India’s presence at the top of international team chess. The Indian side featured several of the country’s leading players, including world champion D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin.
The tournament proved demanding for the Indian players, particularly during the middle rounds when opportunities to close the gap on the leaders were missed. India nevertheless remained among the leading contenders throughout the competition and secured a podium finish.
Uzbekistan capitalised on its opportunities to claim the open title on home soil. The hosts finished two match points ahead of Germany and India, according to ChessBase’s tournament coverage.
India’s women also ended their campaign with a bronze medal. The team drew with Georgia in the final round and finished third with 17 match points. China won the women’s section with 20 points, while Kazakhstan took second place.
Savitha Shri B was among the standout performers for India. She produced an unbeaten individual campaign and earned individual recognition for her contribution to the women’s team. Her performance was particularly important during difficult moments in the tournament, including the final-round encounter against Georgia.
The Indian women’s team had entered the competition as defending champions but had to settle for bronze after a series of tightly contested matches. The result nevertheless ensured another podium appearance for India at the world’s premier team chess event.
India also retained the Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy, awarded for the best combined performance by a country in the open and women’s sections. It marked India’s third consecutive success in the award after victories at the 2022 Chennai and 2024 Budapest Olympiads.
The Samarkand event also produced an important individual milestone involving an 11-year-old Indian-origin British player.
Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest player ever to earn the Woman Grandmaster title after completing her third and final WGM norm during the Olympiad. The England representative achieved the feat at 11, breaking the previous record held by Russia’s Kateryna Lagno, who had earned the title at 12.
Sivanandan’s performance attracted attention throughout the tournament. She competed for England and played all 11 rounds, finishing with eight points, according to the Financial Times. She also secured her second norm toward the International Master title in open chess.
Her achievement adds another chapter to a rapidly developing chess career. Earlier in 2026, Sivanandan had already broken age-related records and defeated highly rated opposition. Her progress at Samarkand brought those performances into the spotlight on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The WGM title is awarded after a player fulfils the required performance and rating conditions established by FIDE. Sivanandan’s accomplishment places her among the youngest players ever to achieve a major international chess title.
Her next target could be the open International Master title. She has already secured two of the three required IM norms, leaving one more norm to complete the requirements.
The tournament also saw recognition for India’s Divya Deshmukh. She was named Best Female Player at the inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards, adding an individual honour to India’s team medals. Her recent performances included winning the Women’s World Cup, according to reports on the awards.
The Samarkand Olympiad also marked a change at the top of world chess administration. Timur Turlov was elected FIDE president, succeeding Arkady Dvorkovich. Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand retained the position of FIDE deputy president.
For India, the final results reflected both continuity and a missed opportunity. The open team remained among the world’s strongest and collected silver, while the women’s side added bronze. The combined results were enough to secure the Gaprindashvili Trophy for a third straight Olympiad.
The tournament also demonstrated the increasing depth of Indian chess. Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Arjun and Nihal remain part of a strong generation in the open section, while players such as Divya Deshmukh and Savitha Shri have strengthened the women’s side.
With the Olympiad now concluded, attention will shift back to individual competitions and the continuing battle for places among the world’s leading players. For the Indian contingent, the Samarkand campaign provided another international podium finish while also producing one of the tournament’s most notable age records.