Chess Olympiad 2026: Erigaisi stunned by Thailand in India's 3-1 win
Synopsis
Defending champions India won their Chess Olympiad opener 3-1, but the headline was Arjun Erigaisi's stunning defeat to Thailand's Prin Laohawirapap — a player rated more than 400 Elo points below him. Gukesh, Sarin, and Vidit rescued the result. The Indian women were flawless, sweeping 4-0. Botswana's 2-2 draw with Brazil was the round's other standout story.
Key Takeaways
India defeated Thailand 3-1 in the opening round of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan .
Arjun Erigaisi was upset by Thailand's Prin Laohawirapap , resigning after 54 moves — the biggest upset of Round 1.
D Gukesh , Nihal Sarin , and Vidit Gujrathi all won their boards to secure the match result for India.
The Indian women's team beat Dominican Republic 4-0 , with Koneru Humpy , Vaishali Rameshbabu , Vantika Agrawal , and Savitha Shri B all winning.
Botswana held Brazil to a 2-2 draw despite facing opponents rated over 400 Elo points higher on every board.
Top seed United States won 3.5-0.5 against Iraq, playing without Fabiano Caruana .
Arjun Erigaisi, ranked among the world's elite, suffered a shock defeat to Thailand's Prin Laohawirapap on the top board as defending champions India opened their campaign at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with a 3-1 win over Thailand. Reigning World Champion D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi each won their games to secure the points, ensuring India began their title defence on a positive — if imperfect — note.
Erigaisi's Blunder That Turned the Game
Erigaisi had held the better position for much of the encounter and appeared on course for a routine win. However, a critical tactical oversight in a time-pressure situation proved costly. With both players running low on time, Erigaisi needed to find a precise defensive move that simultaneously preserved his extra pawn and maintained winning chances.
Instead, he played an error that allowed Laohawirapap to unleash a dangerous attacking sequence, putting the Indian grandmaster's king under severe pressure. Despite attempting to defend, Erigaisi resigned after 54 moves — handing the Thai player what is being described as the biggest upset of the opening round.
Indian Men's Other Results on Board
The remaining boards brought relief for the Indian camp. Gukesh defeated Alriyami Faris Rashid, Sarin overcame Kulpruethanon Thanadon, and Vidit Gujrathi beat Khumnorkaew Tupfah to ensure the defending champions did not slip on the opening day.
Indian Women's Team Starts With a Clean Sweep
The Indian women's side put in a more authoritative performance, blanking Dominican Republic 4-0. Koneru Humpy, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Vantika Agrawal, and Savitha Shri B all won their respective boards to give defending champions India a flawless start in the women's section.
Other Round 1 Highlights
Hosts Uzbekistan defeated Jamaica 4-0, while top seed United States — playing without Fabiano Caruana — edged Iraq 3.5-0.5. China blanked Uganda 4-0, as did Germany, Azerbaijan, France, Armenia, and England. Notably, Botswana produced a remarkable result, holding a strong Brazil side to a 2-2 draw despite their players trailing opponents by more than 400 Elo points on every board — one of the more striking performances of the round.
In the women's section, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, China, the United States, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, France, and Poland also recorded 4-0 victories.
With the Swiss League format ensuring tougher pairings as the tournament progresses, India's men will need Erigaisi to regroup quickly — the opening round upset will do little to unsettle the broader squad, but it signals that no result in Samarkand can be taken for granted.
Point of View
Which pairs all teams equally in Round 1 regardless of rating, is a leveller. A 400-plus Elo gap on the top board should have been a formality; it was not. The more telling question is whether India's depth — demonstrated by Gukesh, Sarin, and Vidit rescuing the scoreline — can carry them through later rounds when top-board losses against stronger opposition will not be so easily absorbed. India's women, by contrast, sent a cleaner early message. The real test for both teams comes when the bracket stiffens.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Arjun Erigaisi at the Chess Olympiad?
Arjun Erigaisi lost to Thailand's Prin Laohawirapap on the top board in Round 1 of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. Despite holding a better position for most of the game, a tactical blunder under time pressure allowed Laohawirapap to launch a decisive attack, and Erigaisi resigned after 54 moves.
What was India's final score against Thailand in the Chess Olympiad?
India defeated Thailand 3-1 in the opening round of the 46th Chess Olympiad. D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi won their boards while Arjun Erigaisi lost on the top board.
How did the Indian women's team perform in Round 1?
The Indian women's team blanked Dominican Republic 4-0 in Round 1. Koneru Humpy, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Vantika Agrawal, and Savitha Shri B all won their respective games.
Where is the 46th Chess Olympiad being held?
The 46th Chess Olympiad is being held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. India are the defending champions in both the Open and Women's sections.
What was the Botswana result at the Chess Olympiad?
Botswana held Brazil to a 2-2 draw in Round 1 despite their players starting the match trailing their opponents by more than 400 Elo points on every board — one of the most notable results of the opening round.
