Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 16: World champion D Gukesh will play on the fourth board for India at the Chess Olympiad, which begins on Wednesday, in a strategic decision by team captain Srinath Narayanan.

Gukesh, who represented India on the top board in the previous two Olympiads, will line up behind Praggnanandhaa on board one, Arjun Erigaisi on board two and Nihal Sarin on board three. Veteran Vidit Gujrathi has been named as the reserve player.

The decision also means Gukesh is unlikely to face Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov during the Olympiad. Sindarov, who is set to challenge Gukesh in the upcoming World Chess Championship, has been named on Uzbekistan's second board.

Under Olympiad rules, a player can move up by only one board when a higher-ranked teammate is rested. As a result, Gukesh can move to board three when any of Praggnanandhaa, Arjun or Nihal sits out a round, but he cannot move higher.

If India and hosts Uzbekistan meet during the 11-round tournament, Gukesh could potentially face Sindarov's trusted second-board player, Mukhiddin Madaminov. The Uzbek grandmaster has played a key role in Sindarov's successful run at the FIDE World Cup and Candidates tournament.

Madaminov has been named as Uzbekistan's reserve player and could feature on board four if one of the team's four main players is rested for the India clash.