India regains World Youth Olympiad title

India thrashed Iran 3.5-0.5 in the final round to win the World Youth Chess Olympiad at Chongqing in China on July 29, 2013.

India started as the second seed and scored an important win against the favourites Russians. India are winning this prestigious team event for the third time. India had won the event previously at Singapore 2007 and Turkey 2008.

Indian scorers in board order: Shardul Gagare 6/9, Karthikeyan Murali 6.5/10, Diptayan Ghosh 8.5/10, Sayantan Das 7.5/9 and Ja Gireman 2/2. India won eight matches and drew two to win the title by a slender one point margin.

Indian coach K Visweswaran played an important role in fielding and training the players. He was also behind the success of the team in 2007 at Singapore.

To defeat and finish ahead of Russia is no easy task in chess. India’s talent and power was on display in this event. India drew Turkey and Hungary.

The Youth Olympiad is for players below 16 and this success should translate to bigger success in the future like the World Team Championships and Chess Olympiads.

Final placings: 1 India 18; 2 Russia 17; 3-4. Turkey, Hungary 15 each; 5-8. China-1, USA-2, SCWY Chess Training Center, Iran 14 each…72 teams.