Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Vaishali Lead India's Chess Olympiad

World Champion D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and FIDE Women's Candidates winner R Vaishali will lead India's challenge at the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026, scheduled to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 16 to 27.

India enters the prestigious event as the defending champion in both the Open and Women's sections, having scripted history by winning both team titles at the 2024 Chess Olympiad. The squads announced for this year's edition feature a blend of experienced campaigners and young stars capable of retaining the coveted crowns.

The Open team comprises D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi, with Srinath Narayanan serving as captain. Nihal Sarin is the only new addition to the side that clinched the Open title in 2024.

The Women's team includes Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Savitha Shri B, under the captaincy of Swayams Mishra. While Humpy and Savitha were not part of India's championship-winning team in 2024, their inclusion strengthens the squad with valuable experience.

Among the Indian players, Praggnanandhaa heads into the Olympiad in outstanding form after winning the Norway Chess Tournament in June, where the 20-year-old defeated World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh, and several other top grandmasters en route to the title.

In contrast, Gukesh has faced a challenging spell recently. At the Chennai Grand Masters, he finished last after scoring just two points from seven games, including three defeats. Nevertheless, the reigning world champion remains one of India's biggest hopes in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Vaishali created history in April 2026 by becoming the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament, earning the right to challenge China's Ju Wenjun for the Women's World Championship title.

With world-class talent in both teams and the confidence of defending champions, India will aim to produce another memorable performance when the Chess Olympiad begins in Samarkand this September.