Chess Olympiad 2026 Round 10: Savitha Shri saves India women draw China; men thump Uzbekistan

This was B Savitha Shri’s eighth win from nine games; she has drawn one and lost none.  | Photo Credit: FIDE

For the second time inside three days, B. Savitha Shri proved India’s savior. The 19-year-old girl from Chennai ensured India at least got a match point in the penultimate round of the Chess Olympiad at Samarkand on Saturday.

India was trailing 1-2 against the sole leader China, but Savitha’s win on the fourth board over Zhai Mo helped her team draw 2-2, keeping alive the hopes of a medal going into Sunday’s final round.

Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh had drawn their games, and Vantika Agrawal lost, and that meant Savitha was in a must-win situation.

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This was her eighth win from nine games; she has drawn one and lost none. Thanks in no small measure to the debutant’s superb show, India is in joint second in the women’s event with position with 16 points. China has 18 points and Kazakhstan 17. 

In the open section, India is in the sole second position with 17 points, one behind the leader Uzbekistan. Germany, Ukraine and Hungary have 16 points each, setting up an exciting finish. 

The Indian men posted a thumping 3.5-0.5 win against the host’s second team, Uzbekistan (2) 3.5-0.5. R. Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin and D. Gukesh scored wins, while Arjun Erigaisi drew. 

Important results (10th round):

Open: India beat Uzbekistan (2) 3.5-0.5 (R. Praggnanandhaa beat Jakhongir Vakhidov; Arjun Erigaisi drew with Abdimalik Abdisalimov; Nihal Sarin beat Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov; D. Gukesh beat Ortik Nigmatov).

Uzbekistan beat Armenia 3.5-0.5; Ukraine beat China 3-1; Germany beat France 3-1; USA beat Greece 3-1; Netherlands beat Romania 2.5-1.5; Azerbaijan beat Bulgaria 2.5-1.5; Turkiye beat Argentina 3.5-0.5; Serbia beat Lithuania 2.5-1.5; Croatia beat Brazil 3.5-0.5; England beat Belarus 2.5-1.5; Poland beat Montenegro 3.5-0.5; Iran beat Latvia 2.5-1.5.

Women: India drew with China 2-2 (Koneru Humpy drew with Zhu Jiner; Divya Deshmukh drew with Song Yuxin; Vantika Agrawal lost to Lu Miaoyi; B. Savitha Shri beat Zhai Mo).

Uzbekistan beat Peru 3.5-0.5; Poland beat Mongolia 3-1; Armenia drew with Greece 2-2; Vietnam beat Indonesia 2.5-1.5; Georgia beat England 2.5-1.5; USA beat Israel 4-0; Slovenia beat Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5; Romania beat Netherlands 3-1; Ukraine drew with Iran 2-2; Latvia beat Germany 2.5-1.5.