India, Sept. 27 -- Reigning world champion Gukesh D had lost his game. He walked over to Arjun Erigaisi, broke into a smile and patted him on the back. It was one of those peculiarly wonderful sights the Olympiad produces - a fiercely individual sport briefly becoming a team game.

Arjun's win with Black on Board 2 against former World Championship challenger Peter Leko was India's only victory against Hungary in the final round and earned them a 2-2 draw on Sunday. It was enough to win the defending champions the silver medal in the Open section of the Fide Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.

Hosts Uzbekistan, who had cruised through much of the tournament, deservedly took gold after beating Ukraine, while Germany finished third following a 2....