India's unparalleled performance at the 188-team Budapest Olympiad was nothing short of historic. Their Open team achieved an unprecedented score of 21/22, finishing four points ahead of the next best team. The individual triumphs included four gold medals, with Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, showcasing a 3000+ rating performance, setting the stage for his world championship challenge in November.

This victory mirrors the 1945 USA v USSR radio match, where the Americans, despite their dominance in the 1930s, were crushed 15.5-4.5, ushering in 45 years of Soviet supremacy, briefly interrupted by Bobby Fischer. India's dominance echoes the legendary USSR teams of the 1950s and 1960s, filled with world champions and challengers, rarely losing a game.

For the first time in Olympiad history, no European team made it to the podium in either the Open or Women's event. Despite this, European teams secured positions from fifth to 23rd in the Open category. Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, 21, who won the boards one and three golds, outperformed even Magnus Carlsen, leaving the Norwegian with a top board bronze.

Gukesh has risen to No. 5 in the world rankings, while Erigaisi is now No. 3. Both are on the brink of surpassing the 2800 rating mark this weekend, scheduled to play for Düsseldorf in the German Bundesliga. India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, hosted the triumphant teams, and Gukesh's victory over China's Wei Yi earned the Olympiad Best Game prize.

Should Gukesh not reach 2800 this weekend, he is expected to do so during his $2.6m world championship match against China's Ding Liren in Singapore on November 25. Ding, who hasn't won in classical chess since January, faces odds of 2/5 against Gukesh's 9/5.

Vishy Anand, world champion from 2007 to 2013, was instrumental in India's success, mentoring several players and witnessing key moments. This victory redeemed India's 2022 Olympiad performance in Chennai, where they faltered in the final rounds.

The US, despite a costly defeat against Ukraine, secured silver, with Wesley So's win against China ensuring their podium finish. Final scores saw India with 21/22 match points, the US with 17, and Uzbekistan with 17, though China, Serbia, and Armenia also scored 17 but with worse tiebreaks.

England, seeded eighth, finished 20th with 15/22. Michael Adams, 51, was their top scorer with an unbeaten 6/9, while Nikita Vitiugov managed a 50% score on top board.

India also won the Women's Olympiad with 18/22, with Kazakhstan taking silver and the US bronze. Carissa Yip, 21, and Alice Lee, 14, won board medals for the US, potentially benefiting from the Cairns Chess Queens award.

Jovanka Houska led England's women with 8/10, while Lan Yao and Harriet Hunt also performed well. The chess elite will gather in London next month for the Tech Mahindra Global League, featuring world champions Carlsen and Anand, and Olympiad hero Erigaisi.