India’s men’s team defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in Round 5 of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 20, extending their perfect run to five consecutive match wins. R Praggnanandhaa secured a crucial victory over Dutch No. 1 Anish Giri on the top board, while reigning world champion D Gukesh defeated Erwin L’Ami on Board 4 to register his fourth individual win in five games.
Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin drew their respective games against Jorden Van Foreest and Loek Van Wely. The result kept India among the joint leaders with 10 match points, alongside hosts Uzbekistan and Germany.
Pragg, Gukesh Deliver
The Indian team entered the fifth round after four victories and faced a Netherlands side that had also made a strong start to the tournament. Praggnanandhaa, playing on the top board, was given the difficult task of facing Anish Giri, the Netherlands’ highest-rated player.
The Indian Grandmaster eventually prevailed in a 58-move game, ending Giri’s four-match winning streak in the Olympiad. Praggnanandhaa had earlier recorded three draws in his first three games on Board 1, making the victory an important breakthrough. He said playing on the top board for India was “an honour” and described the match as an important win after his earlier results had not gone as hoped.
On the fourth board, Gukesh continued his impressive individual campaign by defeating Erwin L’Ami with the black pieces in 53 moves. According to tournament reports, L’Ami made a mistake in a complicated position arising from a Sicilian Rossolimo, allowing Gukesh to gain the advantage and convert it into a winning endgame. The victory took Gukesh to 4.5 points from five rounds, with four wins and one draw. Chess-Results records his result against L’Ami as a win and lists his five-round total at 3.5 points at the time of the official update; later reporting places him on 4.5 after the Netherlands match, reflecting the additional result.
Five Wins, Ten Points
The 3-1 scoreline was completed by two draws in the middle boards. Arjun Erigaisi held Jorden Van Foreest to a draw, while Nihal Sarin drew against veteran Dutch Grandmaster Loek Van Wely. With two wins and two draws, India secured its fifth consecutive match victory of the tournament. The official Chess-Results record confirms the four board results: Praggnanandhaa beat Giri, Erigaisi drew with Van Foreest, Nihal drew with Van Wely, and Gukesh defeated L’Ami.
The result also maintained India’s position at the top of the Open section. After five rounds, India, Uzbekistan and Germany were the only teams with a perfect 10 match points. Uzbekistan defeated Hungary 4-0 in the same round, while Germany recorded a 2.5-1.5 victory over top-seeded United States. The 46th Chess Olympiad, being held from September 16 to 27 in Samarkand, features 208 teams in the Open section and is being played over 11 rounds. India entered the competition as defending champions after winning the Open gold at the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest.
Defending Champions Push
India’s men’s side has therefore maintained a clean record through the opening five rounds, with the performances of Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa providing key individual contributions. The squad, captained by Srinath Narayanan, also includes Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi. India had been seeded second in the Open section, behind the United States, and entered the tournament with expectations following its historic double-gold campaign in Budapest in 2024.
The fifth-round victory came on a day of contrasting fortunes for India. While the men maintained their unbeaten run, the women’s defending champions suffered a 1.5-2.5 defeat to Poland, with R Vaishali losing her individual game and the other three boards ending in draws. Six rounds remain in the women’s event, while the men moved into Round 6 on September 21. The tournament’s next stages will bring tougher opposition as the leading teams continue to compete for the title.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s performance in Samarkand highlights how individual brilliance can strengthen a team effort, with experienced players and younger stars contributing in different ways. Praggnanandhaa’s victory after three draws and Gukesh’s consistency show the value of persistence in a long tournament, where every board can influence the wider team result. Beyond medals and rankings, international sporting events such as the Olympiad create spaces where players from different countries meet through competition, discipline and mutual respect. As India’s campaign continues, what do you think makes a strong team in chess — individual excellence, consistency, or the ability to support one another when the pressure rises?
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INDIA BEATS NETHERLANDS 3-1 AT THE FIDE CHESS OLYMPIAD 2026! 🤩🔥
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) September 20, 2026
Pragg & Gukesh won their matches! ✅
India will play Uzbekistan next! 🇺🇿 pic.twitter.com/eszShpIb6c
