From champion
Arjun Erigaisi stunned by little-known Thai as Indian men start with a 3-1 win in round one of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: FIDE Image Source: IANS
Chess Olympiad: Erigaisi Stunned By Little-known Thai As Indian Men Start With A 3-1 Win
Alriyami Faris Rashid: Defending champions India made a winning start in the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, but their 3-1 win over Thailand was marked by a stunning defeat for Arjun Erigaisi on the top board.
Even though most of the top teams and rating favourites secured 4-0 wins against weaker teams in the Swiss League event, there were notable performances like that by Botswana, who played a fantastic match to hold a strong Brazil side 2-2 despite their players starting the match trailing their opponents by more than 400 Elo on each board.
But Erigaisi's defeat to Thailand’s Prin Laohawirapap was the biggest upset of the day, even though reigning World Champion D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi won their respective games to secure a 3-1 win for the 2024 winner in the Open section.
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