Indian Men team missed the podium by a whisker and finished at creditable fourth place in the 42nd Chess Olympiad which concluded at Baku, Azerbaijan on Tuesday.

In the final round, India held to a draw by Norway. Leading from the front, Harikrishna forced world champion Magnus Carlsen to sign the peace treaty while Vidit Gujarathi registered crucial victory over Aryan Tari and Adhiban drew his against Jon Ludvig Hammer with dark pieces. But Sethuraman’s lose against Frode Urkedal denied the Indian signing off from the Olympiad with a win.

 Meanwhile the Indian women team seeded fifth finished at fifth position after splitting the point against USA in the final round. Tania secured victory over Anna Zatonskih while Harika and Soumya settled for half point against Irina Krush and Katerina Nemcova respectively. Padmini Rout lost to Nazi Paikidze made the score line 2 – 2.

In the open section, USA and Ukraine tied for the top spot after defeating Canada and Slovenia respectively in the final round but better tie break scored helped USA to finish at top while Ukraine satisfied with runner up position. Russia after beating Italy finished at third position.

In the women section, China clinched the title in style after defeating Russia in the final round. Poland finished at second position while Ukraine settled for third.

Indian men and women team kept their medal hopes alive after holding Russia in Open and Ukraine in Women section of the ongoing 42nd World Chess Olympiad at Baku, Azerbaijan.

 With four super grandmasters in the lineup, top seed Russia started as clear favourite in the penultimate round but on top board Harikrishna proved the same wrong and outplayed World Championship challenger Sergey Karjakin while Vidit Gujarathi and Sethuraman S P held Ian Nepomniachtchi and Alexander Grischuk to creditable draws. Playing with dark pieces on board two, B Adhiban fought hard against world number four Vladimir Kramnik but surrendered after 46 moves.

The Indian women team equally matched their men counterpart by holding second seed Ukraine. India was the underdog against Ukraine, which have two former world champions and four Grandmasters in their lineup. Harika Dronavalli drew her top board battle against Anna Muzychuk while Padmini held former world champion Mariya Muzychuk. Soumya Swaminathan’s lose against former world champion Anna Ushenina put the fate of the match in the shoulders of Tania Sachdev and she delivered what India needed by beating Natalia Zhukova to make it 2 – 2.

USA and Ukraine are at the pole position in Open section with 18 points after defeating Georgia and Czech Republic respectively in tenth round. Russia is in third position with 16 points while India along with England, Canada, Norway, Italy, Slovenia and Peru are at joint fourth position with 15 points. On tie break India are in fifth position and require some favourable results at top to finish at podium. In the final round tomorrow India will play against Norway.

In women section, China is leading the table with 18 points while Russia occupying the sole second spot with 16 points. India is at joint third position along with Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, USA and Bulgaria. On tie break Indian women are at fifth position and tomorrow pitted against USA.

India slipped to sixth place in the 42nd World Chess Olympiad after losing to fifth seed Ukraine 2.5 – 1.5 in the ninth round. Top three boards ended without decisive result while Sethuraman’s defeat on fourth board against Anton Korobov decided the fate of the match in favour of Ukraine.

Playing with dark pieces Harikrishna drew with Pavel Eljanov while Adhiban and Vidit Gujrathi split the point against former world champion Ruslan Ponomariov and Yuriy Kryvoruchko respectively.

USA after defeating Norway in the ninth round giving company to Ukriane at leaders table with 16 points. Russia after defeating host Azerbaijan moved to third spot with 15 points. In the penultimate round, India paired against Russia while USA and Ukraine pitted against Georgia and Czech Republic respectively.

 While in women section India moved to fifth position after defeating Netherlands in the ninth round. For India Harika Dronavalli, Tania Sachdev and Soumya Swaminathan registered victories over GM Zhaoqin Peng, Anna-Maja Mazarian and Maaike Keetman respectively while Padmini Rout suffered defeat by the hands of WGM Anne Haast.

China leading the point table in women section with 16 points and Poland closely following the leaders with a drift of one point. India has company of Russia and Ukraine with 14 points. In tomorrow’s tenth round, India takes on Ukraine while China paired against Poland on top table.

GM, SP Sethuraman defeated former World Championship challenger Nigel Short in clinical fashion to help India to beat England in the eighth round match of the 42^nd World Chess Olympiad at Baku, Azerbaijan.

After a disappointing seventh round against USA, the Indian youngsters came back strongly to register a resounding 2.5 – 1.5 victory over England. On top board, Harikrishna signed the peace treaty with seasoned campaigner Michael Adams while Adhiban and Vidit Gujarathi signed the peace treaty with David Howell and Gawain Jones respectively.

India is now at joint first position along with USA and Ukraine. Overnight sole leader USA split the point with Russia which helped India and Ukraine to catch up with the leaders. Ukraine defeated Georgia 3 – 1 in the eighth round encounter. In the ninth round tomorrow India takes on Ukraine on top table while USA paired against Norway.

In the Women section, India moved to joint fifth position after defeating Uzbekistan 2.5 – 1.5 in the eighth round battle. Dronavalli Harika defeated WGM Nafisa Muminova while Padmini Rout, Soumya Swaminathan and Pratyusha Bodda settled for half point against WIM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, IM Sarvinoz Kurbonboeva and Nodira Nadirjanova respectively.

USA and China with 14 points are now leading the point table in women section after defeating Russia and Azerbaijan respectively in the eighth round.