Indian chess player B. Savitha Shri emerged as one of the standout performers at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, delivering an unbeaten individual campaign as India’s women’s team finished with a bronze medal.
Making her Olympiad debut as a reserve-board player, the 19-year-old Chennai-based Woman Grandmaster quickly became an important part of India’s campaign. She collected 9 points from 10 games without a defeat, earning individual gold on the fifth board.
A Dream Debut for Savitha
Savitha began the tournament strongly, winning her opening four games. Her consistent performances continued through the competition, including an important victory against Kazakhstan’s Elnaz Kaliakhmet.
Reflecting on her campaign, Savitha described it as an “amazing performance” and said her strong start encouraged her to maintain her momentum and contribute to the team’s effort.
Her individual record eventually stood at eight wins and two draws, giving her one of the strongest individual scores among the players competing on the fifth board.
Crucial Draw in the Final Round
Savitha’s most important contribution came in the final round against Georgia.
India entered the match needing a positive result to remain in medal contention. After Koneru Humpy won her game and Divya Deshmukh lost, the outcome depended heavily on the remaining boards.
Savitha was in a difficult position against Meri Arabidze but managed to hold on for a draw after a lengthy battle. The 2-2 team result was enough for India to secure the women’s bronze medal.
India Finish Third in Women’s Section
China won the women’s tournament with 20 match points, while Kazakhstan finished second with 18. India took third place after drawing with Georgia and finishing ahead on the relevant tiebreak.
The result gave India another medal at the Chess Olympiad after the men’s team won silver in the Open section. India also retained the Nona Gaprindashvili Cup for the third consecutive Olympiad, awarded for the best combined performance across the Open and Women’s sections.
A New Name to Watch in Indian Chess
Savitha’s performance has added another promising name to India’s growing group of young chess players.
Her unbeaten run, individual gold and crucial final-round draw made her one of the defining performers of India’s women’s campaign in Samarkand. The Olympiad debut also provided a major international stage for the Chennai player to demonstrate her consistency under team pressure.
With India returning home with medals in both sections, Savitha’s breakthrough performance stands out as one of the memorable individual stories from the 2026 Chess Olympiad.
