Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Gukesh Assigned Board Four in India’s Chess Olympiad Gambit
India is playing in a major team chess competition called the Chess Olympiad.
Its captain, Srinath Narayanan, decided that world champion Gukesh D would play on board 4.
Usually, a country’s strongest player plays on board 1.
Gukesh played on board 1 in the last two Olympiads and won individual gold medals.
This makes his new position unusual.
Gukesh’s chess rating has dropped since December 2024.
He also did not win a match in his most recent tournament, the Chennai Grandmasters.
The decision may be a strategy to help him, but it also raises questions about the team’s confidence in him.
India captain Srinath Narayanan placed reigning world champion Gukesh D on board 4 for the Chess Olympiad.
The decision is unprecedented for a reigning world champion at the Olympiad.
Gukesh played on board 1 at the previous two Olympiads and won individual gold medals there.
Gukesh’s rating has fallen from 2783 and world No. 5 in December 2024 to 2703 and world No. 31.
The move raises questions about team management’s confidence in Gukesh after he failed to win a match at the Chennai Grandmasters.
- Who
- India captain Srinath Narayanan and reigning world champion Gukesh D.
- What
- Narayanan assigned Gukesh to board 4 for India’s Chess Olympiad campaign.
- When
- The decision was made one day before India began its campaign; Gukesh’s rating comparison is from December 2024 to the present described in the article.
- Where
- The Chess Olympiad is being held in Samarkand.
- Why
- The article does not give a confirmed reason, but the choice raises questions because of Gukesh’s recent form and rating decline.
- Player
- Gukesh D, India’s reigning world champion
- Assigned board
- Board 4
- Previous Olympiads
- Gukesh played on board 1 at the previous two Olympiads
- Previous achievement
- He won individual gold medals at those two Olympiads
- Rating change
- From 2783 and world No. 5 in December 2024 to 2703 and world No. 31
- Recent tournament
- Gukesh did not win a match at the Chennai Grandmasters