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The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad is under way in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and the opening round delivered exactly what makes team chess so compelling: global participation, powerful favourites and fearless underdogs.

On paper, the opening round usually favours the highest-seeded nations. Most leading teams handled that responsibility well, yet several lower-rated players created real pressure. India also received an early warning when Arjun Erigaisi was defeated by Thailand’s IM Prin Laohawirapap. The upset illustrated an essential Olympiad quality: a team must absorb an unexpected result and continue fighting on every board.

For young players, the first round offers a simple lesson: ratings influence expectations, not moves. Every game begins from the same position, and careful calculation, confidence and fighting spirit can narrow even a large rating gap.

At Young Grandmasters Chess Academy, we help children develop calculation, confidence and a lifelong love for chess through personalised one-to-one and small-group coaching.

Round 2 gave India a lesson in resilience. The Open team entered its match against Indonesia as the clear favourite, but three boards ended in draws, leaving Nihal Sarin’s game to decide the match.

Nihal faced Arif Abdul Hafiz and found himself in serious difficulty. He stayed alert, accepted a second chance and converted the game to secure India’s narrow match victory. Long team tournaments are rarely decided by perfect chess; they are often decided by players who keep searching for practical chances when a position has gone wrong.

India’s Women’s team enjoyed a smoother day against Finland. Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal and Savitha Shri scored victories, while R Vaishali added a draw—an excellent example of different players taking responsibility for the team score.

At Young Grandmasters Chess Academy, we help children develop calculation, confidence and a lifelong love for chess through personalised one-to-one and small-group coaching.

By Round 3, an Olympiad begins to change character. The opening mismatches disappear, opponents become stronger and every half-point carries more weight. India responded well to that shift in Samarkand.

In the Women’s section, India overcame Greece, with Koneru Humpy defeating Stavroula Tsolakidou. A top-board victory gives confidence to the other boards and places immediate pressure on the opposition. Humpy’s experience and calm decision-making helped India maintain its successful start.

Young players can learn from the quiet leadership of experienced top-board players: prepare responsibly, control emotions and choose moves that serve the position rather than chasing a spectacular finish.

At Young Grandmasters Chess Academy, we help children develop calculation, confidence and a lifelong love for chess through personalised one-to-one and small-group coaching.

India completed Round 4 with both teams still on a perfect match-winning run. The Open team defeated Spain, while the Women’s team overcame Mongolia 3–1.

Gukesh defeated the legendary attacking player Alexei Shirov, while Arjun Erigaisi recorded his first win of the event. After an opening-round upset, Arjun’s response showed that emotional recovery is every bit as important as opening preparation.

Divya Deshmukh and Savitha Shri delivered wins against Mongolia. The day highlighted the central advantage of a deep team: India did not depend on one player to win every match. On different days, different boards delivered.

At Young Grandmasters Chess Academy, we help children develop calculation, confidence and a lifelong love for chess through personalised one-to-one and small-group coaching.