Chess Olympiad 2026: India Open suffers first defeat against Uzbekistan; women bounce back

Javokhir Sindarov held Arjun Erigaisi to a draw as Uzbekistan handed defending champion India its first defeat of the Chess Olympiad. | Photo Credit: Michal Walusza/FIDE

A day after the Indian women suffered their first defeat of the Chess Olympiad against Poland, the defending champion in the Open section was handed its first loss of the tournament, going down 1.5-2.5 to host Uzbekistan in Round 6 in Samarkand on Monday. India had won each of its opening five matches, including a 3-1 victory over the Netherlands in the previous round.

With three of the four games ending in draws, Nodirbek Yakubboev’s victory over Nihal Sarin proved decisive. It was Nihal’s first individual defeat of the Olympiad after beginning the tournament with three successive wins before draws against Spain and the Netherlands.

Yakubboev prevailed after 54 moves to give Uzbekistan the crucial point. Nihal had been one of India’s most reliable performers in the opening rounds, winning against Thailand, Indonesia and Italy.

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On the top board, R. Praggnanandhaa drew with Nodirbek Abdusattorov after 40 moves. Arjun Erigaisi and Javokhir Sindarov shared the point after 34 moves, while World champion D. Gukesh was held by Shamsiddin Vokhidov in a 40-move draw. The three half-points were not enough after Yakubboev’s win gave the host the edge.

Women’s Section

India’s women, meanwhile, responded strongly to their 1.5-2.5 defeat against Poland in Round 5 by beating the United States 3-1.

File Image: Vantika Agrawal defeated Irina Krush in 65 moves as India bounced back with a 3-1 victory over the United States. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Vantika Agrawal and Savitha Shri B delivered the decisive victories. Vantika overcame Irina Krush in a 65-move battle, while Savitha defeated Rose Atwell in 47 moves.

Koneru Humpy and Carissa Yip split the point after 54 moves, while Divya Deshmukh’s encounter with Alice Lee ended in a draw after 33 moves. The two victories and two draws ensured that the defending champion returned to winning ways immediately after its first setback of the tournament. India had won each of its opening four women’s matches before the defeat to Poland.