THE promised land is here. The future is now. India may have invented chess but they never played like they owned the board as the rest of the world surged ahead.
Not anymore. These days, India are the game’s top dogs. A bunch of teenagers have fulfilled the prophecy way before their time. Now, they have started winning titles. Like they did on Sunday. India’s Open and women’s teams made history as they claimed double gold for the first time at the Olympiad, one of the biggest honours available in the board game currently.
If Viswanathan Anand winning the first world title was Indian chess’ moon landing event, September 22, 2024, will go down as the day when they formally established a colony.
In almost 100 years of the Olympiad, the biggest team competition in the game, both Indian sides were never in contention for the major medal. Over the last two weeks in Budapest, that changed. Both teams used the 64 light and dark coloured squares as a blank canvas to bring to life a crazy dream. On Sunday, that fever dream was realised.
Just before the Olympiad began, Srinath Narayanan, the captain of the Open team, believed the team would start as favourites for gold. Even though they were seeded second in terms of ratings, he was fairly confident that they would all come back with the shiniest of metal discs hanging from their necks. “I think we have a good chance of winning gold,” he had said.
This story is from the September 23, 2024 edition of The Morning Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 23, 2024 edition of The Morning Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Will Rohit Bat In Middle-Order Once Again In The Longest Format?
As India won the toss and opted to bowl in what was a mutually agreed 50-over-a-side pink-ball encounter against Prime Minister XI in Canberra on Sunday, there was one significant change in the line-up.
What Investors Can Look Forward To In 2025
INVESTING is all about understanding the tailwinds and headwinds. Your flight to financial prosperity depends on your ability to understand the impact of these conditions.
What makes loans against gold jewellery hit among borrowers
A slew of factors led by the increasing financial distress of households, regulatory curbs on personal loans & rising prices of the yellow metal are driving the mkt
Maharaja earns ₹16 crore at China box office
Maharaja, starring Vijay Sethupathi, has become the first Indian film to release in China following last month's agreement between India and China to normalise relations and resolve the border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
A train journey and other stories
THROUGH ROSE-TINTED GLASSES
HOLDING TO A PAST IN THE PRESENT
This ongoing multi-disciplinary exhibition maps the shifts and constants of Connaught Place and what makes it still iconic as a bastion of arts, culture, fashion, and lifestyle
Odisha clinch big win versus BFC
ODISHA FC delivered a magnificent performance to clinch an entertaining 4-2 victory against Bengaluru FC at the Kalinga Stadium in the Indian Super League here.
Liverpool beat City to extend lead
LIVERPOOL opened up a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Manchester City's crisis deepened in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday.
Shah takes charge as youngest ICC Chair
JAY Shah, the outgoing secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), officially assumed the role of International Cricket Council (ICC) Chair on December 1, succeeding Greg Barclay, who vacated the position on Saturday.
Anand, Singapore and an evening of frenzy at World Championships
THE hottest ticket in town on Saturday night was Anirudh Ravichander's concert as part of his 2024 Hukum Tour.
