Pragg, Gukesh seal 2.5-1.5 win over England; Indian women hammer Germany to keep gold chase alive
In Round 7 of the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, India edged past England 2.5-1.5, as defending champion India rebounded from their loss to Uzbekistan. Young Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, playing as black, battled English veteran Luke McShane but ultimately lost the endgame after McShane held his nerve. India's victory was solidified by Pragg's win on Board 1 and Gukesh's decisive win on Board 4.
In the women's tournament, Germany failed to challenge defending champions India, with India securing a 3.5-0.5 sweep. India's strong performance brought them closer to securing the gold medal, currently sitting in third place after China and Kazakhstan.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
