India’s men continued their commanding run at the Chess Olympiad 2026, outclassing the Netherlands in the fifth round. R Praggnanandhaa defeated Dutch number one Anish Giri on the top board, while world champion D Gukesh won again to keep his momentum going.

The victory underlined India’s status as one of the teams to beat in the open section, with both of the country’s biggest stars delivering on the same day.

Pragg beats Giri

Praggnanandhaa’s win over Giri was the standout result of the round. Giri, long the face of Dutch chess and one of the most solid players in the world, was outplayed by the young Indian star in a high-profile top-board clash.

Beating a player of Giri’s calibre, with the attention of the entire chess world on the game, is a statement result, and it gave India the ideal start in the match.

Gukesh keeps winning

D Gukesh, the reigning world champion, continued his fine form with another victory. The young champion has made a habit of converting advantageous positions with ruthless efficiency, and his consistent scoring has been the backbone of India’s campaign.

With both Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh in this kind of touch, India’s top boards look formidable against any opposition in the tournament.

The road ahead

Round five is the stage of the Olympiad where the contenders begin to separate from the rest of the field. A convincing win over a strong chess nation like the Netherlands keeps India firmly in the medal conversation.

The team will now prepare for sterner tests in the coming rounds, where every half-point could decide the medals. On current form, few teams will relish facing India.

India’s depth has been the story of this Olympiad. Beyond the top boards, the lower-board players have held firm in difficult positions, giving the team a resilience that few rivals can match.