Chess Olympiad 2024, Round 8: India’s Men Dominate Iran 3.5-0.5
The Indian team, especially Gukesh, now eagerly looks ahead to facing Uzbekistan.
As the game neared its end, Gukesh circled his seat like a predator, while his opponent, Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo, sat in despair, holding his head in frustration. When Parham finally resigned, he couldn’t even look Gukesh in the eye.
His defeat was painful. After 25 moves in the India vs. Iran game of Chess Olympiad’s Round 8, Parham had a 10-minute advantage and two extra pawns. Gukesh, just 18, had beaten Parham for a spot in the Candidates tournament last year, adding tension to their match.
But in four critical moves, Parham made three costly errors. First, he gave away his knight on move 29, then he removed Gukesh’s knight instead of taking his queen on move 31, and finally, on move 32, he misplaced his rook instead of moving his king to safety.
Playing against a top-calculating player like Gukesh, even one mistake can be fatal. Parham made three in quick succession. Unsurprisingly, two moves later, he conceded, handing Gukesh his sixth win in seven games, with one draw.
Parham’s teammates didn’t fare any better. On the fourth board, Vidit Gujrathi forced Idani Pouya to resign after 40 moves.
The Indian team, especially Gukesh, now eagerly looks ahead to facing Uzbekistan. This matchup may pit Gukesh against prodigy Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who had ended Gukesh’s run at the Chennai Olympiad two years ago, leading India to a bronze medal.