Reigning world champion D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa powered India to a 2.5-1.5 victory over England in Round 7 of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday.

Top seeds and defending champions India bounced back from their defeat to Uzbekistan with a narrow win. Praggnanandhaa, playing with the white pieces on the top board, defeated Nikita Vitiugov, while Gukesh secured victory over Daniel Howard Fernandez with Black. On the second board, Arjun Erigaisi was held to a draw by veteran Michael Adams. Nihal Sarin, however, lost to Luke McShane, leaving India to secure the match by a 2.5-1.5 margin.

In a key table clash, hosts Uzbekistan strengthened their position at the top of the standings with a 3-1 win over China. Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeated former world champion Ding Liren, while Nodirbek Yakubboev beat Yu Yangyi with Black. World Championship Final challenger Javokhir Sindarov drew with Wei Yi, while Mukhiddin Madaminov and Xu Xiangyu also shared the point.

Elsewhere, the United States were held to a 2-2 draw by Armenia. Germany defeated Turkiye 3-1, the Netherlands beat Bulgaria 3.5-0.5, and Azerbaijan defeated Greece 3.5-0.5.

In the women’s section, India registered a commanding 3.5-0.5 victory over Germany, keeping their medal hopes alive with two rounds remaining. B Savitha Shri continued her remarkable run, defeating Lara Schulze with Black to claim her seventh consecutive win in seven rounds. She remains the only player in the Olympiad to have won all seven games.

Koneru Humpy defeated Dinara Wagner and Divya Deshmukh beat Hanna Marie Klek to complete India’s dominant result.