Historic double! Women win 1st Chess Olympiad GOLD

The Indian women's chess team etched their names in history by securing their maiden Chess Olympiad title, defeating Azerbaijan in a decisive 3.5-0.5 victory in Budapest.

This triumph marks a historic double gold for India, following the men's team's earlier victory.

For the women's team, D Harika, 33, was at her technical best, striking on the top board, and the 18-year-old Divya Deshmukh yet again outclassed her opponent Givhar Beydullayeva to confirm her individual gold medal on the third board.

After the 23-year-old R Vaishali drew, the Indian team confirmed the victory when Vantika Agrawal, 21, won the last game by turning the tables on Khanim Balajayeva.

Gukesh and Erigaise won gold medals on the first and third board in the open section while Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Agrawal won gold for their best performances on board three and four respectively in the women's section.

Like R Praggnanandhaa, D Harika also found her form in the final round game of the women's section, winning a highly technical rook and pawns endgame against Gunay Mammadzada.

Divya Deshmukh remained the best performer in the team with another victory in the final round that took her personal tally to an awe-inspiring 9.5 points out of a possible 11.

While two points would have been enough, Vantika Agrawal also rubbed some salt on Azerbaijan, winning her game from a seemingly worse position. On the other board, R Vaishali drew to complete the onslaught.

The women's team scored 19 points in all and were in a must-win situation coming in to the final round. By the time they won against Azerbaijan, the gold was already in their pocket as it was clear that overnight co-leader Kazakhstan were only going to make a draw with the US.

In the women's section, Kazakhstan bagged the silver medal while the US got the bronze.

Medals: Gold: India; Silver: Kazakhstan; Bronze: USA.

Dronavalli Harika beat Gunay Mammadzada; Ulviyya Fataliyeva drew with R Vaishali; Divya Deshmukh beat Govhar Beydullayeva; Balajayeva Khanim lost to Vantika Agrawal

Women: Board 1: Gold: Zhu Jiner (Chn); Silver K Sarasadat (Esp) Bronze: Nana Dzagnidze (Geo)

Board 2: Carissa Yip (USA); Elisabeth Paehtz (Ger); Song Yuxin (Chn)

Board 3: Divya Deshmukh (ind); Sabrina Vega (Esp); Elina Danielian (Arm)

Board 4: Vantika Agrawal (Ind); Alice Lee (USA); Anna Sargsyan (Arm)

Board 5: Dana Kochavi (Isr); Nodira Nadirjanova (Uzb); Lu Miaoyi (Chn).