Indian Chess Team Poised to be Second Seed at Budapest Olympiad 2024
For the second consecutive time, the Indian chess team is set to be seeded second in the Open section of the upcoming Budapest Olympiad, scheduled for September. This follows their second seeding at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai in 2022.
The USA is expected to be the top-seeded team, boasting seven players with ratings above 2700 points, including Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who has a rating of 2802. โIf the best of the United States players are playing, say GMs Fabiano Caruana, Nakamura, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, Leinier Dominguez Perez, they could be top seeds,โ Indian GM Pravin Thipsay told IANS.
The seeding is based on the average ratings of team members. The average rating of the five Indian players is 2742.6, with four super Grandmasters (GM) rated over 2700 points and GM P. Harikrishna rated at 2695.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is likely to rank India second after the USA, based on the average ratings of its top 10 players.
โThe Indian team would comprise GMs Arjun Erigaisi (World No. 4, Rating 2778), Dommaraju Gukesh (Rank 7, Rating 2763), R. Praggnanandhaa (Rank 8, Rating 2757), Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi (Rank 22, Rating 2720), and the reserve P. Harikrishna (Rank 37, Rating 2695),โ GM Abhijit Kunte, Chief Coach and Chairman of the Selection Committee, All-India Chess Federation (AICF), told IANS.
Interestingly, GM V.R. Aravindh Chithambaram has a rating of 2703, higher than Harikrishna. However, according to Nitin Narang, President of AICF, โAs per the selection regulations of AICF, the Indian team for the Olympiad will be selected three months before the scheduled start of the event after the publication of the June 2024 FRL (FIDE Rating List) based on the average rating of FRLs of April, May, and June 2024 (three months FRLs prior to the selection date).โ
Narang added, โThe players need to play at least nine games in the last six months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May & Jun 2024 FRLs) prior to the selection date to be considered for selection. Further, a bonus of 25 points will be added to the average rating of national champions.โ
Despite these regulations, the criteria favoring Harikrishna over Chithambaram remain undisclosed.
Reflecting on Indiaโs historical performance, Thipsay noted, โWe were generally always between 20-35 till Anand (GM V. Anand) got into the team. In 1992, we were the 19th seed, far away from top seed Russia and England, the second seed. When we beat England in Manila in 1992, it was all in the headlines. Anand drew with Short, Barua with Nunn, and Prasad with Speelman. I beat Michael Adams. Generally, we were rarely in the top 15. My last Olympiad was in 2002. Thereafter, there was a gradual improvement with Sasikiran, Ganguly, and Harikrishna becoming stronger. And 2022 was the highest seeding ever.โ
Thipsay expressed pride in Indiaโs rise in rankings, attributing it to the efforts and sacrifices of players and their families. He also highlighted Indiaโs strength compared to some Asian, African, Australian, and most South American teams.
Top-seeded teams benefit from facing relatively weaker teams in the initial rounds and enjoy better accommodations. โTop teams in general get good hotels but that has been the case for decades,โ GM and coach R.B. Ramesh told IANS. He added that such hotels are usually closer to the venue, reducing travel time.
Ramesh emphasized the importance of team play for Indiaโs medal chances, stating, โIf we play as a team, we have good chances.โ
