Chess Olympiad: With future world champs in its teams, where India stands

In 2014, when the Indian team won bronze at the Chess Olympiad (in Tromso, Norway), fans back home were ecstatic. They will be deeply disappointed if the Indian squads don’t haul in at least a couple of medals, and shinier ones at that, at Mamallapuram where the 44th Chess Olympiad is currently underway.

In the last eight years, Indian chess has climbed greater heights. The grandmaster population has more than doubled since 2014, rising to 75 titleholders (36 in 2014). There are seven Indians in both the top 100 Open and top 100 Women’s lists – four of them are