The Indian men's chess team continued their impressive run at the 45th Chess Olympiad with a dominant 3.5-0.5 victory over Iran, strengthening their claim for the gold medal in the Open section. With this eighth consecutive win, the team now sits comfortably at the top with 16 points, two points ahead of their closest competitors, Hungary and Uzbekistan, with just three rounds remaining.

World No. 4 Arjun Erigaisi set the tone with a powerful performance using black pieces, overwhelming Bardiya Daneshvar. D Gukesh followed suit, defeating Parham Maghsoodloo, also with the black pieces, in a thrilling endgame battle. R Praggnanandhaa secured a draw against Amin Tabatabaei, ensuring India's overall victory, while Vidit Gujrathi outclassed Idani Pouya, contributing further to India's commanding win.

Arjun's personal score now stands at an impressive 7.5 points from eight games, inching him closer to the prestigious 2800-rating mark. In live ratings, he currently holds 2793 points. If he crosses the 2800 threshold, Arjun will become only the 16th player in history and the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to achieve this milestone.

Gukesh, meanwhile, continues to close the gap, reaching 2785 points, marking the first time two Indian players are in the top five of the world rankings.

In contrast, the Indian women's team faced a surprising setback, losing 1.5-2.5 to Poland in the same round. Despite the loss, the women's team remains hopeful for a strong finish in the remaining rounds.

Indian Chess Teams Shine: Men Crush Azerbaijan, Women Overcome Kazakhstan