The Indian men's team continued its fine performance, defeating Spain 3-1, with world champion D Gukesh showing the way with a very clean victory over former world championship challenger Alexei Shirov.

Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra hailed reigning Chess World Champion Gukesh D for his decision to play on Board 4 at the ongoing Chess Olympiad.

The Indian men's team, the defending champions, made an average start as world champion D Gukesh slipped below 2700 in live ratings after the first two rounds of the 46th Chess Olympiad.

D Gukesh will take on challenger Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan in the upcoming World Chess Championship which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 24 to December 12.

Javokhir Sindarov will face Gukesh in a battle for the world crown between two 20-year-olds in Geneva over 14 classical games from November 24 to December 12.

Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi believes reigning world champion D Gukesh's title defence against Uzbek challenger Javokhir Sindarov will be a test of mental strength more than chess ability.

Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin believes world champion D Gukesh's slump is a matter of confidence, not class, and hopes the upcoming Chess Olympiad in Samarkand will help him turn the corner.

World champion D. Gukesh is crumbling under the weight of expectations and needs to shut out the noise to regain his form ahead of his title defence, said American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura

The FIDE World Championship Match 2026 between reigning champion Gukesh D and challenger Javokhir Sindarov will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 25 to December 15.

World champion D Gukesh, the in-form R Praggnanandhaa and Candidates winner R Vaishali headline a star-studded Indian team for the FIDE Chess Olympiad to be played from September 16 to 27 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.