Chess Olympiad: India women draw with China; men beat Uzbekistan (2) 3.5-0.5

India’s women held China to a 2-2 draw and the Indian men defeated Uzbekistan (2) 3.5-0.5 in the penultimate round of the Chess Olympiad at Samarkand on Saturday.

B. Savitha Shri, 19, from Chennai, secured the women’s match point with a fourth-board victory over Zhai Mo, after India had been trailing 1-2; this was the second time in three days she played a decisive role for the team. Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh drew their games while Vantika Agrawal lost her encounter. Savitha’s win was her eighth from nine games; she has drawn one and lost none. The result leaves India joint second in the women’s event with 16 points, behind China on 18 and Kazakhstan on 17, while in the open section India sit sole second with 17 points, one behind Uzbekistan; Germany, Ukraine and Hungary each have 16.

India trailed China 1-2 before the final board; Koneru Humpy drew with Zhu Jiner and Divya Deshmukh drew with Song Yuxin early in the match. Vantika Agrawal lost to Lu Miaoyi on another board, leaving Savitha Shri with a must-win situation on board four. B. Savitha Shri beat Zhai Mo to level the tie at 2-2 and secure a match point for India.

The Indian men produced a comprehensive 3.5-0.5 victory over Uzbekistan (2). R. Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin and D. Gukesh won their games while Arjun Erigaisi drew his. The individual outcomes were: R. Praggnanandhaa bt Jakhongir Vakhidov; Arjun Erigaisi drew with Abdimalik Abdisalimov; Nihal Sarin bt Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov; D. Gukesh bt Ortik Nigmatov.

Important open results (10th round) included Uzbekistan bt Armenia 3.5-0.5 and Ukraine bt China 3-1. Germany bt France 3-1, USA bt Greece 3-1, Netherlands bt Romania 2.5-1.5 and Azerbaijan bt Bulgaria 2.5-1.5. Additional open results were Turkiye bt Argentina 3.5-0.5; Serbia bt Lithuania 2.5-1.5; Croatia bt Brazil 3.5-0.5; England bt Belarus 2.5-1.5; Poland bt Montenegro 3.5-0.5; and Iran bt Latvia 2.5-1.5.

Important women’s results (10th round) beyond India-China included Uzbekistan bt Peru 3.5-0.5 and Poland bt Mongolia 3-1. Armenia drew with Greece 2-2, Vietnam bt Indonesia 2.5-1.5 and Georgia bt England 2.5-1.5; USA bt Israel 4-0 and Slovenia bt Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5. Romania bt Netherlands 3-1, Ukraine drew with Iran 2-2 and Latvia bt Germany 2.5-1.5.

Both Indian teams move into Sunday’s final round of the Chess Olympiad; the women’s draw keeps India’s medal hopes alive going into the last round, while the men remain in sole second place, one point behind Uzbekistan.