Global Chess League stays in India

The Global Chess League (GCL) will stay home, for another season. The fourth edition of the league, a joint venture of Tech Mahindra and world chess governing body FIDE, will be held later this year.

The third season was conducted in Mumbai last December, with The Royal Opera House being the venue. It was the first time the league, featuring most of the world’s top players, was staged in India — the first two editions were held in Dubai and London. The event in Mumbai attracted a good crowd on all days.

Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay, who was the coach of last year’s champion Alpine SG Pipers, backed the decision to hold the GCL in India again. “The league could go to another city this year,” Thipsay told The Hindu. “I think it will be nice to have it in Chennai, the capital of Indian chess.”

The GCL commissioner Gaurav Rakshit said that India’s passion for the game and the rapidly growing chess ecosystem had made it a natural destination for the league. “The GCL has played a pivotal role in transforming chess into a more dynamic and spectator-friendly sport,” Rakshit said. “We look forward to another exciting season that brings together the world’s best players and a global fanbase.”

The FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich said that the league had injected new energy into the sport by combining world-class competition with an engaging team format. “India continues to play a defining role in the global growth of chess, both through its exceptional talent and the passion of its fans,” Dvorkovich said.