India and Russia were declared as the joint winners of the 2020 Online Chess Olympiad on Sunday.
Initially Russia was declared winners after two Indian players — Nihal Sarin and Divya Deshmukh — lost out on time in the final after suffering a disconnection with the server. India lodged a protest against the controversial decision which was reviewed.
“FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich made a decision to give gold medals of FIDE Online #ChessOlympiad to both teams – India and Russia,” the FIDE tweeted. Owing to the pandemic, this was the first time in history that FIDE, the international chess federation, conducted Chess Olympiad virtually.
🇷🇺 Russia and India 🇮🇳 are co-champions of the first-ever FIDE Online #ChessOlympiad.
Tournament's website: https://t.co/bIcj0hRMek#chess #IndianChess #шахматы pic.twitter.com/gP4sULP2kr
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) August 30, 2020
“We are the champions !! Congrats Russia!,” the legendary chess player Viswananthan Anand wrote on his twitter handle after the final.
We are the champions !! Congrats Russia!
— Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking) August 30, 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate the Indian chess team after they were crowned joint champions of the match. “Congratulations to our chess players for winning the FIDE Online #ChessOlympiad. Their hard work and dedication are admirable. Their success will surely motivate other chess players. I would like to congratulate the Russian team as well,” PM Modi tweeted.
Congratulations to our chess players for winning the FIDE Online #ChessOlympiad. Their hard work and dedication are admirable. Their success will surely motivate other chess players. I would like to congratulate the Russian team as well.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 30, 2020
Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar also congratulated Viswanathan Anand and the whole Indian team for their achievement. “What a wonderful weekend this has been for Indian Sports. A day after we celebrated #NationalSportsDay, our Chess Team brings laurels by becoming joint champions. Congrats @vishy64theking & the entire team.#ChessOlympiad,” Tendulkar tweeted.
What a wonderful weekend this has been for Indian Sports. A day after we celebrated #NationalSportsDay, our Chess Team brings laurels by becoming joint champions.
Congrats @vishy64theking & the entire team.#ChessOlympiad https://t.co/9Q41Abx4pj— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 30, 2020
Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju also took to Twitter, “I congratulate our Indian contingent that won the Gold at the @FIDE_chess Online Chess Olympiad. India was declared the joint winner with Russia. My heartiest wishes to all players.”
I congratulate our Indian contingent that won the Gold at the @FIDE_chess Online Chess Olympiad. India was declared the joint winner with Russia. My heartiest wishes to all players!
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 30, 2020
The first round of the final ended in a 3-3 draw with all the six games finishing in stalemate. The Indian squad at the Chess Olympiad 2020 included Vishwanathan Anand, Vidit Santosh Gujarati (captain), P. Harikrishna, Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, Bhakti Kulkarni, Nihal Sarin, Divya Deshmukh, R. PraggnanandhaVantika Agrawal, R. Vaishali and Arvindh Chithambaram.