FIDE Chess Olympiad: Joshi scores against higher-rated opponent

Fourteen-year-old Aditi Joshi kept the Golden Arrowhead flying with a win over a higher-rated opponent at the 45th Chess Olympiad now underway in Budapest, Hungary.
In an impressive display of talent and tenacity, Joshi, representing Guyana in the Women’s Chess Olympiad, secured a remarkable victory in the second round against Women’s Chess Master (WCM) Yara Faqeeh of Palestine. The young Queen’s College student, playing for Guyana’s women’s team, showed composure beyond her years as she battled her seasoned opponent in an epic three-and-a-half-hour encounter.
Playing with the black pieces, Joshi faced the Palestinian WCM Faqeeh, who opted for the popular Queen’s Pawn opening, the ‘London System’. Despite her opponent’s experience, Joshi navigated the opening flawlessly, maintaining an early advantage well into the middle game. Her strong opening play demonstrated a deep understanding of chess principles, and she looked poised to hold her own against the WCM.
However, the experienced Faqeeh found a way to turn the tables, surprising Joshi on the 22nd move by exchanging one of her minor pieces (a bishop) for one of Joshi’s major pieces (a rook), gaining a significant material advantage. At that moment, it seemed as if the tide had shifted in favour of the Palestinian.

Joshi, undeterred and determined, fought back with the resilience and strategic insight that have marked her as one of Guyana’s rising stars. In a pivotal moment, the powerful chess engine Stockfish 16, which analysed the game, deemed Joshi’s 26th move as “brilliant”. In a stroke of tactical genius, she equalised the position with a subtle bishop manoeuvre, setting up a long-range pin on her opponent’s knight, effectively neutralising Faqeeh’s earlier material advantage.
The game soon transitioned into a tense endgame – often regarded as the ultimate test of a player’s strategic depth and calculation. Joshi’s handling of the endgame was nothing short of masterful, showcasing her ability to execute long-range calculations under immense pressure. Maintaining her composure, Joshi steadily gained a decisive advantage, and her precision play eventually led to her promoting a pawn to a second queen.
After a hard-fought struggle, WCM Faqeeh was forced to resign, marking a significant victory for the Guyanese junior female and earning the first point for Guyana’s women’s team at the Olympiad. Her remarkable performance has set a strong tone for the remainder of the tournament.
Her talent bides well for her to continue to make her mark on the global chess stage.
As the youngest member of the Guyanese team, Joshi’s victory is not only a testament to her potential but also an inspiration for young chess players across the nation. Her triumph in Budapest is a proud moment for Guyana and a sign of great things to come in her chess career.