Chess Olympiad History
The greatest team event in chess. From 16 teams in London 1927 to 190+ nations competing today, the Olympiad has been chess's grandest stage for nearly a century.
Most Open Gold
Soviet Union: 18 (1952-1990)
Russia: 5 (1992-2002)
USA: 6 (1931-2016)
Hungary: 2 (1927-1978)
Armenia: 3 (2006-2012)
China: 2 (2014-2018)
Most Women's Gold
Soviet Union: 11 (1957-1988)
Georgia: 5 (1992-2008)
China: 5 (1998-2018)
Russia: 3 (2010-2014)
India: 1 (2024)
Double Gold Winners
Soviet Union: 11 doubles
China: 1 double (2018)
India: 1 double (2024)
Only 3 nations have ever won both Open and Women's at the same Olympiad.
1927🇬🇧London🇭🇺 HungaryFirst official Chess Olympiad. 16 teams. Hungary won ahead of Denmark and England.1928🇳🇱The Hague🇭🇺 HungaryHungary defended their title.1930🇩🇪Hamburg🇵🇱 PolandPoland won, led by Rubinstein and Tartakower.1931🇨🇿Prague🇺🇸 USAFirst US victory, led by Kashdan and Marshall.1933🇬🇧Folkestone🇺🇸 USA/ 🇨🇿 CzechoslovakiaFirst Women's Olympiad held alongside.1935🇵🇱Warsaw🇺🇸 USA/ 🇨🇿 Czechoslovakia1936🇩🇪Munich🇭🇺 HungaryUnofficial Nazi-organized Olympiad alongside Berlin Olympics. Not recognized by FIDE.1937🇸🇪Stockholm🇺🇸 USA/ 🇬🇧 EnglandReshevsky led the US team.1939🇦🇷Buenos Aires🇩🇪 GermanyStarted Sept 1, same day Germany invaded Poland. Many players stayed in Argentina. Germany won with Eliskases leading.1950🇷🇸Dubrovnik🇷🇸 YugoslaviaFirst post-war Olympiad. Host nation won with Gligoric, Pirc, Trifunovic.1952🇫🇮Helsinki🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionSoviet Union's first Olympiad. Dominance begins. Keres, Smyslov, Bronstein on the team.1954🇳🇱Amsterdam🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionBotvinnik played board 1 for USSR.1956🇷🇺Moscow🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionSoviet Union wins on home soil. Botvinnik, Smyslov, Keres, Bronstein all played.1958🇩🇪Munich🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionTal and Petrosian debuted for the Soviet team.1960🇩🇪Leipzig🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionTal, fresh World Champion, led the Soviet team. Fischer played board 1 for USA.1962🇧🇬Varna🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet Union1964🇮🇱Tel Aviv🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionFischer did not play.1966🇨🇺Havana🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionPetrosian, Spassky, Tal, Korchnoi on Soviet team. Fischer played board 1 for USA.1968🇨🇭Lugano🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet Union1970🇩🇪Siegen🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionSpassky, Petrosian, Korchnoi, Polugaevsky, Smyslov, Geller on Soviet team. Fischer played for USA.1972🇷🇸Skopje🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionFischer did not play (preparing for Spassky match). Karpov debuted.1974🇫🇷Nice🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionKarpov, Korchnoi, Spassky, Petrosian, Tal on Soviet team.1976🇮🇱Haifa🇺🇸 USA/ 🇮🇱 IsraelSoviet boycott. USA won first gold since 1937. Israel won women's on home soil. A counter-Olympiad was held in Tripoli.1978🇦🇷Buenos Aires🇭🇺 Hungary/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionHungary ended 26-year Soviet streak! Led by Portisch, Ribli, Sax.1980🇲🇹La Valletta🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionKasparov's Olympiad debut on board 6.1982🇨🇭Lucerne🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionKasparov and Karpov both played.1984🇬🇷Thessaloniki🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet Union1986🇦🇪Dubai🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇷🇺 Soviet UnionKasparov and Karpov on same team despite their rivalry.1988🇬🇷Thessaloniki🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇭🇺 HungaryLast Soviet Olympiad victory. Hungary's women's team included Judit Polgar (age 12).1990🇷🇸Novi Sad🇷🇺 Soviet Union/ 🇭🇺 HungaryFinal appearance of the Soviet Union. Ivanchuk led on board 1.1992🇵🇭Manila🇷🇺 Russia/ 🇬🇪 GeorgiaFirst post-Soviet Olympiad. Kasparov led Russia. Georgia won women's with Gaprindashvili and Chiburdanidze.1994🇷🇺Moscow🇷🇺 Russia/ 🇬🇪 GeorgiaKasparov and Kramnik led Russia.1996🇦🇲Yerevan🇷🇺 Russia/ 🇬🇪 GeorgiaRussia won. Georgia won women's.1998🇷🇺Elista🇷🇺 Russia/ 🇨🇳 ChinaChina's first Women's Olympiad gold.2000🇹🇷Istanbul🇷🇺 Russia/ 🇨🇳 China2002🇸🇮Bled🇷🇺 Russia/ 🇨🇳 ChinaKasparov's last Olympiad.2004🇪🇸Calvia🇺🇦 Ukraine/ 🇨🇳 ChinaUkraine's first gold! Ivanchuk led. Karjakin played at age 12.2006🇮🇹Turin🇦🇲 Armenia/ 🇺🇦 UkraineArmenia's first gold! A nation of 3 million beats the world.2008🇩🇪Dresden🇦🇲 Armenia/ 🇬🇪 GeorgiaArmenia defends!2010🇷🇺Khanty-Mansiysk🇺🇦 Ukraine/ 🇷🇺 Russia2012🇹🇷Istanbul🇦🇲 Armenia/ 🇷🇺 RussiaArmenia wins third Olympic gold.2014🇳🇴Tromso🇨🇳 China/ 🇷🇺 RussiaChina's first Open gold! Major milestone.2016🇦🇿Baku🇺🇸 USA/ 🇨🇳 ChinaUSA wins first gold since 1976! Nakamura, Caruana, So lead.2018🇬🇪Batumi🇨🇳 China/ 🇨🇳 ChinaChina wins both Open and Women's! First double gold since Soviet Union.2022🇮🇳Chennai🇺🇿 Uzbekistan/ 🇺🇦 UkraineUzbekistan's stunning upset! Russia banned due to invasion of Ukraine.2024🇭🇺Budapest🇮🇳 India/ 🇮🇳 IndiaIndia wins BOTH gold medals! Historic double.