R <keyword id="19987305" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="praggnanandhaa" source="keywords">Praggnanandhaa</keyword> set the tone on the top board as the Indian men's team blanked Morocco 4-0, while the women romped home against Jamaica, conceding just a draw in the process, in the first round of the 45th <keyword id="6362158" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chess" source="Orion">Chess</keyword> <keyword id="6417781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="olympiad" source="Orion">Olympiad</keyword> here. With world championship challenger D Gukesh taking a break in the opening round, Praggnanandhaa delivered the goods against <keyword id="23137140" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tissir-mohamed" source="keywords">Tissir Mohamed</keyword> out of a Sicilian defense game while Vidit Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi and P Harikrishna also pulled off comfortable wins to start off confidently on Wednesday. In the women's section, <keyword id="2588824" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="R-Vaishali" source="Orion">R Vaishali</keyword> and <keyword id="22399512" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tania-sachdev" source="keywords">Tania Sachdev</keyword> scored fine victories in the first time control itself. However, on the other two boards there was stiff resistance as <keyword id="20380119" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="divya-deshmukh" source="keywords">Divya Deshmukh</keyword> had to sweat hard for a much-needed victory while Vantika Agarwal was forced to concede a draw in the endgame against her rival. It was business as usual for the top guns despite the occasional hiccups. Top seeded United States also won 3.5-0.5 against Panama. Wesley So was the lone American who was unable to force matters and had to be content with a draw. Armenian-American Levon Aronian came out of an early mishap to turn the tables and ensure smooth sailing for the American team into round two. As many as 99 teams in the open section started off with wins giving them all two points each. A total of 182 teams were paired while 15 teams were still grappling to reach Budapest. Praggnanandhaa was up against a Sicilian by top Moroccan Mohamed who had only himself to blame after the opening got over. The Indian teen had a stronghold on the king side that he utilised to the fullest to take the first point home for the team. Not very far behind was Gujrathi who was clearly in his elements. He also got an opening advantage out of a King pawn game against <keyword id="23137139" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jacques-elbilia" source="keywords">Jacques Elbilia</keyword> as he knocked down a pawn and never looked back. Erigaise may have had to work harder but the Indian youngster, who is currently ranked number four in the world, was never far from winning his game. Harikrishna faced some initial resistance from Anas Mosyad in a closed Sicilian but his superior understanding of the structure gave him the vital point. The second round will see the Indian men clash with a spirited Iceland. In the women's competition, <keyword id="20251131" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaishali" source="keywords">Vaishali</keyword> had no trouble in converting her position with black pieces as D Harika was rested on the top board. Tania Sachdev was in command right through and despite a little mess-up, she did not let the advantage slip through her hands playing on board four. On the second board, there were some serious issues for Divya Deshmukh but the recently-crowned world junior girls' champion proved her mettle out of an equal position. The same, however, was not the case with Vantika as she was forced in a drawn queen and pawns endgame. The women's event features 178 teams as of now with 19 still awaited to join the extravaganza from round two onward. Indian results round 1: R Praggnanandhaa beat Tissir Mohamed; Jacques Elbilia lost to Arjun Erigaisi; Vidit Gujrathi beat Ouakhir Mehdi Pierre; Anas Moayad lost to P Harikrishna Women: R Vaishali beat Adani Clarke; Divya Deshmukh beat Rachel Miller; Raehanna Brown drew with Vantika Agrawal; Tania Sachdev beat Gabriella Watson.

Chess: Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali star in India's strong start at Olympiad

The <keyword id="21388035" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chess-community" source="keywords">chess community</keyword> went into a frenzy as it hailed India's D <keyword id="19905851" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gukesh" source="keywords">Gukesh</keyword> as a potential "future world champion" after he etched his name in the history books by winning the prestigious Candidates tournament in Toronto. Gukesh drew with American Hikaru Nakamura in the final round to not only win the prestigious tournament but also become the youngest ever challenger to the world title at 17. Five-time world champion and the only other Indian to win the Candidates, the legendary <keyword id="20221790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Viswanathan-Anand" source="keywords">Viswanathan Anand</keyword> was one of the first people to congratulate the teenager. "Congratulations to @DGukesh for becoming the youngest challenger. The @WacaChess family is so proud of what you have done. I'm personally very proud of how you played and handled tough situations. Enjoy the moment," Anand wrote on 'X'. Gukesh had become the third youngest player in history to earn the Grandmaster title at the age of 12 and English grandmaster David Howell said he knew the prodigiously talented player would go on to do great things from the moment he played his first match against the Indian. "Congrats to Gukesh on winning the Candidates!! What a tournament I knew he was special ever since our first game. He was just 12 years old (but already a GM! ) While analysing, both his mature attitude and his calculation skills impressed me hugely. Future world champ?" Howell wrote. Former world champion and Grandmaster <keyword id="21388036" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vladimir-Kramnik" source="keywords">Vladimir Kramnik</keyword> of Russia congratulated Gukesh for his astounding performance. "What an evening Congratulations to Gukesh and special award for both Fabi, Ian for their incredible performance today. One of the most interesting games I ever saw. Bravo, REAL FIGHTERS, for giving it all. Most important, more than anything in chess in fact Full respect," Kramnik wrote. With the win, Gukesh bettered the legendary Garry Kasparov's 40 year-old record. The Russian great was 22 when he qualified in 1984 to clash with compatriot Anatoly Karpov. The Chennai-based teen will take on reigning world champion, China's <keyword id="20216378" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ding-Liren" source="keywords">Ding Liren</keyword>, for the crown later this year. Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy, who finished second in the women's section, said "Congratulations to @DGukesh for becoming the youngest challenger!!" Another Indian Grandmaster Tania Sachdev said Gukesh's win shows that "furture is here." "GUKESH WINS THE CANDIDATES!! The future is here. It's today. 22.04.2024 a date to remember It's going to be Ding Liren vs Gukesh, World Chess Championship 2024" Sachdev tweeted. Dronacharya award-winning coach Ramachandran Ramesh lauded the Indian's inspiring run at the tournament. "Hearty Congratulations to young @Gukesh for convincingly winning the Candidates. Inspiring performance! Whole India is proud of you!" Ramesh tweeted. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani chess grandmaster Teimour Radjabov was left spellbound by the teenager's achievement. "@DGukesh congratulations, stunning! At any age, but at 17 years old... it is just WOW!" he wrote. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank">At 17, Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh becomes youngest challenger for World Championship</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank">Telecom companies may hike tariffs by up to 17% after the general elections, predict analysts</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ev-sales-expected-to-grow-by-over-65-in-2024-double-its-overall-market-share/articleshow/109155691.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ev-sales-expected-to-grow-by-over-65-in-2024-double-its-overall-market-share/articleshow/109155691.cms" target="_blank">EV sales expected to grow by over 65% in 2024, double its overall market share</a>

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Chess: Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali star in India's strong start at Olympiad

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The future is here: Chess community lauds Gukesh's historic win

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