Thinley Namgay   

Team Bhutan delivered a commendable performance winning one and drawing two  games  after six  rounds  of the tournament as of yesterday at the 45th Chess Olympiad, which is currently underway in Budapest, Hungary.

The tournament, which began on September 10, has seen the eight-member Bhutanese squad—comprising four players each from the women’s and open teams—compete fiercely.

Bhutan secured its first win after the  women’s team defeated Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3-1.   

The open team managed  a  2-2 draw against  Burkina Faso. The  open team  also drew  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines team with 2 -2 score.

Suk Raj and Lhundrup won their games to draw the match.

However, the women team lost 3 -1 to Brunei Darussalam. During that game, only Asha Huang Limboo won the game and pulled back a point. The team also lost against Malawi.

The  open team lost to Sao Tome and Principe. Bhakta acquired a  half point in this game after  a draw against the top FIDE rated player Sergio Pereira.

Bhutanese officials and players are determined to improve the international ranking of Bhutan.  Currently, Bhutan stands 171st in world chess ranking among 190 countries.

All countries will play 22 matches in total.

Team Bhutan comprises a mix of students and professionals, including four students and four working adults, three of whom are engineers. The blend of experience and youthful enthusiasm reflects the team’s commitment to making an impact on the international chess stage.

The Olympiad, which will conclude on September 23, features over 1,800 players from 193 national teams in the open section and 181 women’s teams.

As of yesterday, countries such as India, Vietnam, China and Iran are leading the competition.  Countries such as Yemen, Nepal, South Sudan, Somalia, Gambia and Mali, among others are yet to earn a point.