Chess Olympiad: Gukesh held to draw as India’s teams extend unbeaten run

India's defending champions in both the open and women's sections continued their winning run at the 46th Chess Olympiad on Thursday. Both sides won their second-round matches.

In the open section, Nihal Sarin emerged as India's standout, while D Gukesh was held to a draw and R Praggnanandhaa could not force a win in his board encounter; the team nevertheless prevailed. The women's team recorded a more decisive team result in their second-round match.

Nihal Sarin secured his second victory of the tournament playing White against Hafiz Arif Abdul, entering a sharp Sicilian and applying pressure on Black's king. There was a brief moment when Nihal allowed a tactical opportunity that could have endangered his own king, but Abdul did not capitalise. The Malaysian's king soon became exposed with several pieces still on the board, and Nihal converted the resulting advantage.

D Gukesh, the reigning world champion, playing White, was held to a draw by Indonesia's Satria Duta Cahaya, who neutralised India's attempts to create complications and responded accurately throughout. That game concluded in a series of perpetual checks, leaving the match situation resting on the remaining boards.

R Praggnanandhaa pressed against Susanto Megaranto but could not break down the Indonesian's defence, eventually reaching a rook-and-pawn ending with an extra pawn after a prolonged battle. The position offered no realistic winning chances and the two players agreed to a draw after 79 moves, sealing India’s 2.5-1.5 victory in the round.

Elsewhere in the open section, the United States edged Mongolia 2.5-1.5, while Uzbekistan beat Peru 3.5-0.5.

India's women's team produced a clearer result: World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh won her first appearance at the Olympiad against Johanna Paasikangas on board two, Vantika Agrawal recorded her second consecutive win by defeating Sara-Olivia Sippola, and B Savitha Shri beat Helja Lehtinen. With India already 3-0 ahead, R Vaishali agreed a draw with Anastasia Keinanen to complete the match victory for the defending champions.

Both India open and women's sides now have four match points and sit at the top of the standings after the second round.