FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024: Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa fire India past England in Round 7
Synopsis
India's chess juggernaut keeps rolling: Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa both won in Round 7 to edge England 2.5-1.5 at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand — and in the women's section, B Savitha Shri became the only player in the entire tournament to win all seven of her games, a record that underlines just how dominant India's chess generation has become.
Key Takeaways
India defeated England 2.5-1.5 in Round 7 of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand on 23 September .
Dommaraju Gukesh and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa both won their individual games; Nihal Sarin lost to Luke McShane .
Uzbekistan lead the open section after beating China 3-1 , with Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeating former World Champion Ding Liren .
In the women's section, B Savitha Shri recorded her seventh consecutive win — the only player in the Olympiad with a perfect 7/7 score.
India's women beat Germany 3.5-0.5 , staying in medal contention with two rounds left.
Reigning World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa delivered match-winning performances as India edged out England 2.5-1.5 in Round 7 of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday, 23 September. The defending champions recovered from their earlier loss to host nation Uzbekistan to stay firmly in title contention.
How India Won
On the top board, Praggnanandhaa overcame Nikita Vitiugov with the white pieces, while Gukesh prevailed over Daniel Howard Fernandez playing with black. The two victories were enough to secure India's win despite Nihal Sarin suffering a defeat at the hands of Luke McShane. On the second board, Arjun Erigiasi was held to a draw by veteran Michael Adams, leaving India's margin of victory at a slender half-point.
Uzbekistan Consolidate Lead, China Fall
In a pivotal table clash, hosts Uzbekistan stretched their lead at the top of the standings with a commanding 3-1 victory over China. Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeated former World Champion Ding Liren, while Nodirbek Yakubboev beat Yu Yangyi with the black pieces. World Championship Final challenger Javokhir Sindarov was held to a draw by Wei Yi, and Mukhiddin Madaminov shared the point with Xu Xiangyu.
Other Open Section Results
Former champions the United States were pegged back to a 2-2 draw by Armenia, with Robert Hovhannisyan defeating Wesley So and Liang Awonder securing a draw against Gabriel Sargissian. Elsewhere, Germany defeated Turkiye 3-1; the Netherlands beat Bulgaria 3.5-0.5; Azerbaijan handed Greece a dominant 3.5-0.5 defeat; and Uzbekistan 2 played out an all-draw stalemate with France.
Indian Women Dominant, Savitha Shri Makes History
B Savitha Shri continued her remarkable run in the women's section, recording her seventh successive win in as many rounds as India crushed Germany 3.5-0.5. She is the only player — male or female — to have won all seven games played so far in the Olympiad, an extraordinary individual feat at this level. Koneru Humpy defeated Dinara Wagner and Divya Deshmukh overcame Hanna Marie Klek to complete India's dominant day.
Women's Section: Other Scores
Uzbekistan beat Slovenia 3.5-0.5; China were held 2-2 by Kazakhstan; Georgia beat Poland 2.5-1.5; and Bulgaria handed Ukraine a 3-1 defeat. With two rounds remaining, India's women's team stays firmly in medal contention alongside the dominant men's contingent, making this one of India's strongest Olympiad campaigns in recent memory.
Point of View
The team's depth — anchored by a reigning World Champion and one of the world's top-ranked juniors — absorbed the blow and held course. The more striking story may be on the women's side, where Savitha Shri's perfect seven-from-seven is not a fluke but an extension of a broader structural investment India has made in women's chess. Uzbekistan's commanding lead in the open section, built on beating both India and China, sets up a potential final-rounds showdown that could define the tournament's narrative. India's real test will be whether the men's team can handle that pressure without the margin for error they had today.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of India vs England in Round 7 of the Chess Olympiad?
India defeated England 2.5-1.5 in Round 7 of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand on 23 September. Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa won their games, while Nihal Sarin lost and Arjun Erigiasi drew.
Who is leading the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad after Round 7?
Uzbekistan lead the open section standings after a dominant 3-1 win over China in Round 7. They extended their points lead over other top teams including India.
What is B Savitha Shri's achievement at the 2024 Chess Olympiad?
B Savitha Shri has won all seven of her games in the women's section, making her the only player in the entire Olympiad — across both open and women's sections — with a perfect score. She defeated Lara Schulze with the black pieces in Round 7.
How did the Indian women's team perform in Round 7?
India's women beat Germany 3.5-0.5 in Round 7. Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and Savitha Shri all won their games, keeping India in strong medal contention with two rounds remaining.
What happened between Uzbekistan and China in Round 7?
Uzbekistan beat China 3-1 in what was the most significant table clash of Round 7. Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeated former World Champion Ding Liren, and Nodirbek Yakubboev beat Yu Yangyi with the black pieces.
