Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Gukesh Explains India’s Shock Chess Olympiad Board Four Move
India is playing in a big chess team event called the Chess Olympiad.
Gukesh is the world champion, but he is playing on the team’s fourth board.
Some people wondered whether this meant the team had lost confidence in him.
Gukesh said choosing fourth board was actually his idea, and everyone agreed it gave India the best chance to win.
He said Pragg and Arjun had been playing very well.
Gukesh won his third-round game against an Italian player.
India then beat Italy by three games to one.
He also said the team had a difficult start because of tiring travel and delays in getting hotel rooms.
Gukesh Dommaraju said placing him on India’s fourth board was his idea and the team’s collective decision.
He said Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi were in strong form and that no player was bigger than India.
Gukesh defeated Italy’s Sabino Brunello in round three, helping India win the match 3-1.
He dismissed his earlier draw as a well-defended game and said Brunello’s overly creative play allowed him to take control.
Gukesh said travel and room-allocation problems in Samarkand contributed to Arjun Erigaisi’s first-round loss.
- Who
- Indian world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, teammates including Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin, and the Italian team.
- What
- Gukesh explained India’s decision to place him on board four and helped India defeat Italy 3-1 in round three.
- When
- After Gukesh’s round-three victory at the Chess Olympiad; the article also discusses rounds one and two.
- Where
- Samarkand, where the Chess Olympiad is being held.
- Why
- The Indian team believed this board order gave it the best chance of winning, while travel and accommodation problems affected the team’s opening round.
Questions About the Board Order
Gukesh and Team’s Explanation
Meaning of placing Gukesh fourth
Questions About the Board Order
The decision immediately raised questions about whether team management had reduced confidence in the world champion after his poor recent form.
Gukesh and Team’s Explanation
Gukesh said the placement was his own idea and that the team believed it provided India’s best chance of winning.
Who should lead the lineup
Questions About the Board Order
A world champion might ordinarily be expected to play on a higher board in a major team event.
Gukesh and Team’s Explanation
Gukesh said Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi were in especially strong form and that he was willing to do whatever helped India, even rest games if necessary.
Cause of Arjun’s first-round loss
Questions About the Board Order
Arjun’s defeat contributed to India matching its previous record of one loss in the opening round after a strong earlier Olympiad campaign.
Gukesh and Team’s Explanation
Gukesh said the loss was unfortunate and may have been linked to exhausting travel and Arjun receiving his room only after a six-hour wait.
- Board position
- Gukesh is playing on board four for India.
- Gukesh’s explanation
- He said the board order was his idea and a decision supported by the whole team.
- Round-three result
- Gukesh defeated Italian grandmaster Sabino Brunello with the black pieces.
- India-Italy match
- India won 3-1, with Gukesh and Nihal Sarin winning and Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi drawing.
- Gukesh’s recent rating
- He fell below a 2700 live rating after drawing in round two.
- Women’s team
- Vantika Agrawal, Savitha Shri and Koneru Humpy won, while Divya Deshmukh drew.
- Travel disruption
- The team waited six hours for rooms after arriving in Samarkand, according to Gukesh.