At the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, India’s open team faced a critical turning point in Round 8 against Azerbaijan, relying on world champion Dommaraju Gukesh to salvage their title defense after earlier setbacks against Uzbekistan. Gukesh pressed Mahammad Muradli with white pieces in a Najdorf Sicilian, aiming for a breakthrough after board leads shifted across the tournament hall.
Gukesh Battles Muradli to a Standstill
Playing white with the ambitious 7.Qf3, Gukesh encountered accurate responses from Muradli, who deployed 7…h6 alongside active queen maneuvers. Both players simplified early in the middlegame following 16.Bxc4 Qxc4 17.Qd3 Qxd3, transitioning into a queenless position. Gukesh carved out space on the queenside via 27.b4 and 28.b5, while Muradli locked down the center and activated his king. The match intensified into a severe time-pressure scramble, leaving both players with under two minutes by move 35. Following the time control, a rook-and-bishop endgame proved unbreakable. Muradli launched active rook checks beginning with 48…Rb2+, forcing Gukesh’s king into a repeating sequence that ended in a draw after 56…Rb2+.
The resulting standings show Uzbekistan and Germany tied at the top with 14 points each. A chasing group trailing closely on 13 points includes China, Azerbaijan, the United States, India, Armenia, and France, all vying for positions as the tournament enters its final rounds.
Savitha Shri Secures India’s Women’s Team Draw
In the women’s section, Savitha Shri extended her winning streak to seven games on Board 4, rescuing India in a 2-2 match against Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan initially took the lead when Alua Nurman defeated Vaishali Rameshbabu on Board 2. Following draws by Divya Deshmukh against Meruert Kamalidenova and Koneru Humpy against Bibisara Assaubayeva, India required a win from Savitha to maintain contention.
Savitha faced Elnaz Kaliakhmet in an Italian Game (Giuoco Piano) that evolved into a prolonged strategic battle. Her deployment of 11.Ra4 initiated a series of calculated rook maneuvers, shifting the position in White’s favor after 25.Nf5 created a superior structure. Queens left the board soon after, steering the game into a demanding rook-and-pawn endgame. Managing the complications of the endgame, Savitha maintained practical control with moves like 52.Rd5+ and 54.dxe4 before simplifying via 59.Rxd3 into a winning king-and-rook ending, prompting Kaliakhmet's resignation after 62.Ra2.
Olympiad Standings and Title Race
With three rounds remaining in Samarkand, the women’s leaderboard features China in front with 15 points, followed by Kazakhstan and Mongolia with 14 points each, and India positioned at 13 points.
| Section | Leading Teams (Points) | Chasing Teams (Points) |
|---|---|---|
| Open Section | Uzbekistan (14), Germany (14) | China (13), Azerbaijan (13), United States (13), India (13), Armenia (13), France (13) |
| Women’s Section | China (15), Kazakhstan (14), Mongolia (14) | India (13) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the current leaders in the Open section of the 2026 Chess Olympiad?
Uzbekistan and Germany share the lead in the Open section with 14 points apiece, closely followed by a pack of teams on 13 points.
How did Savitha Shri perform in her Round 8 match?
Savitha Shri defeated Elnaz Kaliakhmet on Board 4 in a lengthy rook-and-pawn endgame, extending her personal winning streak to seven games and securing a 2-2 team draw against Kazakhstan.
What opening did Dommaraju Gukesh choose against Mahammad Muradli?
Gukesh played white in a Najdorf Sicilian, opting for the 7.Qf3 line before transitioning into a queenless middlegame and a drawn rook-and-bishop ending.
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