After victories over Italy and Greece, the Indian team continues to confidently lead the standings at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. The men's team defeated the Italians 3:1, while the women's team crushed the Greeks 3,5:0,5 — and this is already the third consecutive victory for both. Behind the dry numbers lies not merely a streak of lucky games, but a demonstration of how decades of investment in chess have turned into a sustainable results machine.
For the first time in the tournament, the men fielded their strongest lineup: Praggnanandhaa on the first board drew, Arjun Erigaisi also split the point, but the decisive contribution came from Nihal Sarin and world champion Dommaraju Gukesh. Nihal secured his third consecutive victory, while Gukesh, after a draw in the second round, returned to a winning rhythm. The women's team acted even more ruthlessly: Koneru Humpy took revenge on Stavroula Tsolakidou, Vantika Agrawal and B. Savitha Shri each added a point, while Divya Deshmukh had to settle for a draw.
What is happening now is not a random surge of form. India came to the Olympiad as the two-time reigning champion and immediately showed that it does not intend to give up ground. Young players who grew up in a system where chess became a national priority combine calculation with psychological resilience. Against Italy, where all the opponents are grandmasters, the Indians did not allow the course of the match to be turned even in difficult positions.
The women's team is especially telling. Humpy, who returned after a defeat in the Global Chess League, played the match confidently and dominated. Vantika and Savitha continue their winning streak, demonstrating that the depth of the lineup allows them to withstand the load without losses. These are no longer isolated talents, but a well-tuned system in which everyone understands their role.
Compare this to how in ordinary life one strong family holds the whole household together: while the elders hold the line, the younger ones pick up the slack and strengthen it. Here it is the same — the experience of Humpy and Praggnanandhaa is complemented by the energy of Nihal and Gukesh. The opponents are not yet the very top ones, but even now it is clear how the Indians cope with pressure and maintain concentration down to the last board.
Eight rounds lie ahead, and the opponents will only get stronger. But even now it is clear: India is not merely defending its titles, but setting a new standard for team chess play. The future of the Olympiads largely depends on whether other federations can build a similar system of preparation and selection.
