Indian men's team put up a splendid show holding defending champions Armenia to a draw on all boards in the eighth round of the ongoing 41st Chess Olympiad to remain seventh in the leader board.
India men are currently placed seventh with 12 points in their kitty.
GM Parimarjan Negi showed the way as he played out a chanceless draw with World No 3 Levon Aronian on the top board while the trio of GM SP Sethuraman, GM Krishnan Sasikiran and GM B Adhiban followed suit almost shutting the door on Armenia's title defence with only three rounds left.
GM Sethuraman had something to worry about on the second board but once he held his position together against Gabriel Sargissian there was not much risk for the Indian men.
GM Sasikiran played out a solid game to to hold Sergei Movsesian while Adhiban gave little away before signing peace with Vladimir Akopian.
Chinese men defeated overnight leaders Azerbaijan to take over the lead on 14 points with three rounds still remaining in this biggest chess spectacle.
Five teams, Ukraine, France, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan and Romania are breathing down the neck of the new leaders on 13 points each while the Indian are seventh in the list.
In the next round, the men are paired against Argentina and have higher rating on all four boards. A victory can take them closer to the top.
There was more good news for the Indian contingent as the Indian eves handed a 3-1 drubbing to Indonesia with Mary Ann Gomes and Padmini Rout coming good on the last two boards.
