"It is like winning the cricket world cup" - AICF General Secretary Dev Patel beams with pride after India's double gold at the Chess Olympiad
Last month in Budapest, India's chess revolution reached its climax. For the better part of the last two years, the gen-z stars of Indian chess teetered along the edge of greatness, manifesting patches of brilliance and carving a niche for themselves in the hearts of loyal chess fans. But the double gold at the Olympiad has now made them mainstream superstars.
The last two weeks have seen the media and the fans clamour around the champions. Hefty cash prizes have been announced by various governments and institutions. Pundits are calling it "the '83 of Chess," predicting a commercial revolution in the sport akin to what cricket saw after the 1983 World Cup win.
The players have been given grand receptions in different parts of the country. The first of these felicitation programs - and perhaps, the most sumptuous of them all - was organised in New Delhi by All India Chess Federation. While the evening saw the gold medallists engulfed in adulation, the AICF officials stood alongside, beaming with pride, like military generals whose troops had won a decisive battle.
Wearing the widest grin of them all was General Secretary Dev Patel. He opened the event with a rousing speech hailing this accomplishment as "historic" and "the beginning of a new era." Later in the evening, Team Sportskeeda caught up with him for an exclusive chat.
"This is the first time in history, in 97 years of Chess Olympiad, that India has got gold in both Open’s and Women’s. That is the highest prize (in chess). It is like winning the cricket world cup. (I am) very happy and very proud. I am sure the whole country is saluting them," said Patel.
Indeed, India's achievement is special. At the Olympiad - an event which regularly sees the participation of over 150 countries - sweeping the gold across both categories is a rare feat. India's double is only the second time it has been accomplished since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
"An impossible task that our Olympiad team made seem like a piece of cake, an easy walk through the park. But trust me a lot of handwork went into it. They gave their heart and soul for this medal," said Patel
He further added:
"Chess is a sport where even 99 out of 100 would bring you down to bronze, like it happened with the Indian team in 2022 at the Chennai Olympiad. So, 101 out of 100 is required to get the two golds at the same time."
Patel also acknowledged the roles of GM Abhijit Kunte and GM Srinath Narayanan, who were the captains cum coaches for the two teams. Kunte led the women's side in Budapest, while Narayanan headed the open team.
"They were the cornerstones....standing behind the players like a rock!" exclaimed Patel. "They were the first line of defence. Whatever the team needed: how to strategise, how to move about, how to go ahead, re-motivate them, rejuvenate them, fill them with confidence - it is all their job. They have done a fantastic job and because of them we have these two gold medals."
Apart from the two captains, the teams were also accompanied by two seconds (i.e. assistant coaches) each. GM Vaibhav Suri and GM Sankalp Gupta assisted the open team, while GM Swayams Mishra and GM Arjun Kalyan were with the women's team in Budapest.
These seconds were the unsung heroes behind the landmark triumph. They would work tirelessly through the night, studying each opponent so they could hand over a comprehensive analysis to the players in the morning before the match. It was indeed this collective effort that resulted in India's groundbreaking success.
Much like every chess enthusiast around the country, Patel too hopes that this milestone victory will inspire many more youngsters to take up chess.
"That chess can be a career has been proven by this team," said Patel. "Take inspiration from such a young Olympiad team. Learn from their story. I will not say it is easy, but it is not impossible. AICF is always here to support you."
After this epic win, chess is poised for yet another phase of bloom in the country. Hence, it was only fitting to end the conversation by talking of the prima donna of Indian chess, who not only paved the path but has also served as a direct source of guidance for the players of the Olympiad team.
Patel summed up the efforts of Vishwanath Anand by quoting AICF's treasurer Dharmendra Kumar from earlier in the evening:
"As treasurer sir said, 'The seeds that Vishy Sir (Vishwanathan Anand) had sown, have become trees now,'" concluded Patel.
"Pretty sure Gukesh will bring the World Championship home" - Dev Patel
The next big thing that Indian chess enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for is the World Chess Championship, which begins in about 50 days from now. The event would be held in Singapore this year and would see 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju challenge the current champion Ding Liren over 14 rounds of classical chess.
Gukesh, who earned his spot by winning the Candidate's Tournament earlier this year, is being touted as the favourite. After all, he had a spectacular run of form at the recently concluded Chess Olympiad, winning nine points in 10 rounds on the first board. On the other hand, Ding Liren, who competed across 8 rounds at the Olympiad, did not win a single game.
"Gukesh has given a strong and dominant performance," said Patel in the same conversation. "Clearly, his form is outstanding right now. On the other hand, I see that Ding Liren is struggling a bit. But I am sure (that it) doesn’t mean that he is going to give up without a fight."
Liren was also tagged as an 'improbable challenger' by the media before the world championship last year. He ended up dragging Ian Nepomniachtchi into a fourth tie-breaker before clinching the victory. However, in a recent interview with FIDE, the Chinese player conceded that he had "dropped a lot since last year" and that Gukesh was "maybe a favourite".
Meanwhile, Patel is confident that the 18-year-old will return home as the World Champion.
"Gukesh is going to go in full preparation mode. And knowing him, how dedicated he is, I am pretty sure that India will be bringing home the World Championship as well," remarked Patel.
If Gukesh emerges victorious, he will be the first Indian to claim the title since Vishwanathan Anand, who won it five times.