Global chess stars
descend in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: It definitely is going to be fast and furious as the top chess stars across the globe gather in Bengaluru for the very first time in the fourth edition of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL) which kick-starts at the Hotel Ashok Lalit on Saturday.The fast-paced Rapid (20 minutes each) event features six teams of six players each, battling first in a Double Round Robin format after which the top two teams then advance to contest the final. The third and fourth placed teams will also be fighting out for the third place.It will also be for the very first time that Bengaluru will witness former World Champions Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand and former Women World Champion Alexandra Kostenuik in action, a treat for chess enthusiasts.Leading the star-studded event comprising of six teams with six players each is world No. 1 Carlsen as he rejoins his Team Alpine APL Pipers after a year’s hiatus from the league. Incidentally Alpine APL Pipers won the last edition in Magnus’ absence and would be looking forward to defending their title. India’s Divya Deshmukh, the winner of Women’s World Cup also makes her debut for Pipers.“I am a little bit surprised to be back, seeing as we had a couple of really frustrating years for the team – the first two years when I was playing. And then when I was away, the team won it all. So this time I’m just trying to do my best to not do any worse than last year,” said Carlsen at a press conference on Friday.Anand moves away from Team Ganges Grandmasters to be the Icon player for PBG Alaskan knights. The 15-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus from Turkiye in Anand’s team is quite clearly one of the players to watch out for as this year he became the youngest ever player in the history of chess to breach the Elo 2700 mark in May this year. Indian superstar Arjun Erigaisi, the second Indian to touch Elo 2800 will also play in Anand’s team.Former Women’s World Champion Kosteniuk is representing Triveni Continental Kings, the champions in the first two editions where the dashing Alireza Firouzja, once touted by Carlsen as his potential successor is the Icon player.Javokhir Sindarov, the Challenger to reigning Champion D Gukesh of India, is the Icon player for Fyers American Gambit has been on a roll in the last one year and it remains to be seen how he motivates his team.Former World Championship Challenger Ian Nepomniatchchi is the Icon player for Ganges Grandmasters while CheQ Mumba Masters has Maxime Vachier Lagrave who is feared more in the faster time controls.What makes matters more interesting is the fact that four points are awarded for a victory with the Black pieces and three points for a win with Whites. A draw fetches 1 point.

Source: Deccan Herald