India beat Italy 3-1 in Round 3 of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Open section on Friday. D Gukesh and Nihal Sarin scored the wins, while R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi drew their games.
It was the first time India fielded its top lineup in the tournament, and the two lower boards made the difference. Gukesh, with Black against Sabino Brunello, won in just 33 moves. Nihal Sarin beat Francesco Sonis to keep his perfect score. Praggnanandhaa could not break Lorenzo Lodici, and Erigaisi had to navigate some anxious moments before drawing with Luca Moroni Jr.
Board 4: Brunello vs Gukesh, a 33-Move Dismantling
Gukesh had not won in the first two rounds. That changed quickly against Brunello. Playing the Queen's Indian with Black, he got a dynamic position out of the opening and was already close to winning by move 20. The game lasted only 33 moves.
The critical sequence started around move 19. Brunello played 19.Ne3, an inaccuracy that let Gukesh respond with 19...Nd4. But Gukesh returned the favor with 19...Nd4 instead of the stronger 19...Nxg3. Brunello then played 20.Nc2, another inaccuracy, and Gukesh seized the initiative for good with 20...Bg7.
After 20...Bg7, Gukesh's pieces coordinated beautifully. Brunello's 23.Bxd4 was another inaccuracy, and Gukesh's 23...Nc3 was the final blow. The knight on c3 was a monster, and Brunello's position collapsed. By move 30, Gukesh was winning material and the game was effectively over.
The finish was clinical. Gukesh's 31...Qxh3 and 32...Bg7 left Brunello with no defense. He resigned after 33...Kh7, with mate inevitable.
Board 3: Nihal Sarin vs Sonis, Punishing a Blunder
Nihal Sarin has now won all three of his games at this Olympiad. Against Francesco Sonis, he played a Pseudo Queen's Indian Defense and gradually outplayed his opponent. The decisive moment came on move 39, when Sonis blundered with 39...Qxc3.
Before that, Sonis had already made a mistake on move 37 with 37...Kxe8, allowing Nihal to keep a strong attack. But 39...Qxc3 was the real turning point. Nihal responded with 40.Bb5, and Sonis resigned immediately. The queen on c3 was trapped, and there was no way to save it.
Nihal's play throughout was confident. He kept his king in the center with 14.Kf1, preparing a kingside attack, and never let Sonis equalize. The win was a testament to his current form.
Board 2: Moroni Jr vs Erigaisi, a 64-Move Draw
Arjun Erigaisi had to work hard for his draw against Luca Moroni Jr. The game lasted 64 moves and featured several swings. Moroni had chances but could not convert, and Erigaisi survived.
The critical moment came on move 30, when Moroni played 30.Qg4, an inaccuracy that allowed Erigaisi to play 30...Qxc3 and win a pawn. But Erigaisi returned the favor with 38...Rb8, an inaccuracy that let Moroni back into the game. The position remained balanced until the end.
Both players made mistakes in the endgame. Moroni's 53.Qf7 and 60.h6 were inaccuracies, and Erigaisi's 54...Rh5 was also imprecise. In the end, neither could find a winning plan, and the game was drawn after 64 moves.
Board 1: Praggnanandhaa vs Lodici, a Frustrating Draw
R Praggnanandhaa could not break Lorenzo Lodici's defense for the second day in a row. The game was an English Opening that quickly became a maneuvering battle. Praggnanandhaa pushed pawns on the kingside but could not create a decisive attack.
The critical moment came on move 25, when Lodici played 25...Re5, allowing Praggnanandhaa to gain a strong initiative. But Praggnanandhaa's 26.Nf5+ was a mistake, and after 26...Bxf5, the position simplified into a draw. The game ended after 41 moves.
Praggnanandhaa will be disappointed not to convert his chances, but Lodici defended well. The draw keeps Praggnanandhaa unbeaten but also without a win in the last two rounds.
India's 3-1 win over Italy was built on the lower boards. Gukesh and Nihal Sarin delivered, while Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi could not convert their chances. The result keeps India unbeaten after three rounds.
The games showed that India's depth is a strength. When the top boards are held, the team can still rely on Gukesh and Nihal to win. That balance will be tested in the coming rounds as the competition gets tougher.
Final result: India 3-1 Italy
Brunello, Sabino 0-1 Gukesh D
Nihal Sarin 1-0 Sonis, Francesco
Moroni, Luca Jr 1/2-1/2 Erigaisi Arjun
Praggnanandhaa R 1/2-1/2 Lodici, Lorenzo
