India wins World Youth Chess Olympiad team title

India regained the team title in World Youth (Under-16) Chess Olympiad after a gap of five years with a resounding victory over Iran in the final round in Chongqing, China today.
The Indian quartet of S A Gagare, Murali Karthikeyan, Diptayan Ghosh and Sayantan Das beat Iran 3.5-0.5 in the 10th round to top the team standings with 30.5 points ahead of heavyweight Russia, who took second spot with 30 points, and Turkey (third with 26 points).
The Indian team won eight ties while drawing twice.
This is India's third title in this prestigious team event having won it previously in Singapore 2007 and Turkey 2008.

International Master Gagare gave India a bright start by defeating Ahmad Asgari Zadeh before Karthikeyan drew his game against woman international master Sarasadat Khademalsharieh.
That was the only time Iran could pose a challenge in the tie as Ghosh and Das -- both Kolkata-based -- came up with impressive performances to beat Shahin Lorpari Zangeneh and Seyed Khalil Mousavi Palatkaleh respectively.

Going through a purple patch, Sayantan, who had recently won Under-10 Nationals, clinched gold in the fourth board that also confirmed his IM title.
He had got his first IM norm in 2009 and 3rd-and-last one in Bhubaneswar Grandmasters meet this year.

Sayantan, who has all age group national titles in his kitty, garnered 7.5 points out of nine games in this 10-round event en route to the gold, while Diptayan clinched a silver in the third board with 8.5 points out of 10.
Gagare (6/9) and Karthikeyan (6.5/10) won bronze in the first and second boards respectively.
India had started the Olympiad as second seed and also scored an important win against the top seed Russians.