The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad has begun in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with India entering the tournament as defending champions in both the Open and Women sections. The prestigious team event is scheduled from September 16 to 27 and brings together national teams from around the world. India is attempting to retain the two gold medals won in both sections at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
The Indian Open team includes world champion D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi. Srinath Narayanan is the team captain. According to the published team list, India has an average rating of 2735 in the Open section and is among the leading teams in the tournament field.
The women's team features experienced grandmaster Koneru Humpy alongside Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali, Vantika Agrawal and Savitha Shri. Swayams Mishra is the captain of the women's team. The squad combines established international experience with younger players who have been prominent in Indian women's chess in recent years.
India's double title defence follows a historic performance at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, when the country secured gold medals in both the Open and Women sections for the first time. The achievement marked an important milestone in India's growing presence at the highest level of international team chess.
The 2026 Olympiad is being conducted under a team Swiss system, with 11 rounds scheduled in the Open and Women sections. Each team consists of five players, with four players normally competing in a round and the fifth available as a reserve. The competition is based on team results rather than individual standings, making consistency across the boards an important part of the tournament format.
D Gukesh is among the key names in the Indian Open squad. The reigning world champion has previously represented India at the Chess Olympiad and will be part of a team that also includes Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi. The lineup gives India a combination of players with significant experience in elite international competitions.
The women's squad also contains several players who were part of India's recent success. Koneru Humpy brings extensive experience at the international level, while Divya Deshmukh and Vaishali have continued to make an impact in major competitions. Vantika Agrawal and Savitha Shri complete the five-member squad listed for the tournament.
The tournament field includes several other strong chess nations. Uzbekistan, China, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan and Hungary are among the teams appearing near the top of the published starting rankings. Uzbekistan, as host nation and a former Olympiad champion, is also part of the leading group in the Open section.
The Indian teams will therefore have to maintain their performance across the full 11-round schedule. Team chess can produce different challenges from individual tournaments because players must balance personal results with the overall score of the national side. A strong result on one board can be important when combined with performances from the other players.
The tournament has also attracted attention because of the strength of the Indian squads. The Open team has an average rating of 2735, while the women's team has an average rating of 2466 according to the published team composition. These figures place both Indian teams among the leading entries in their respective sections.
The opening phase of the Olympiad has also seen reports of logistical difficulties involving the Indian contingent after its arrival in Samarkand. Reports said members of the Indian team faced delays in receiving hotel rooms, with the accommodation issue later addressed following intervention by the All India Chess Federation. The incident did not change India's participation in the tournament.
The focus now moves to the chessboard as India begins its defence of both titles. The final outcome will depend on results across the 11 rounds, with the Open and Women sections running through September 27.
For India, the Samarkand Olympiad represents another opportunity to compete for team gold after the historic double victory in Budapest in 2024. With a squad led by several of the country's leading grandmasters and an experienced women's lineup, the defending champions begin the tournament with both titles to defend