Gukesh D praised for playing on Board 4 at Chess Olympiad

Chess World Champion Gukesh D has received praise from Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra for his decision to play on Board 4 during the ongoing Chess Olympiad. Gukesh opted to move down the team's pecking order to allow R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Nihal Sarin to occupy the top three boards.

Gukesh stated that the decision was made to provide the Indian team with the best possible chance of winning the tournament, noting that his teammates were in excellent form. He emphasized his commitment to the national team, stating, “There’s no player bigger than the country.”

Following a draw against Indonesia’s Satria Duta Cahaya in Round 2, Gukesh's live classical ranking slipped below the 2700 mark for the first time in four years, a result he did not view as a disappointment.