Global Chess League 2024 to take place from October 3 to 12 in London
The second edition of the Global Chess League will take place from October 3 to 12 at Friends House in London. It will bring some of the finest chess talents of the world into a team format that assures explosive and competitive encounters.
Six teams, including the inaugural edition champions Triveni Continental Kings, are set to show their mastery in the sport. The other five teams are Alpine SG Pipers, Ganges Grandmasters, Mumba Masters, American Gambits, and PBG Alaskan Knights.
This time, the Super Team event shall feature six players in each team. There will be two top women chess players and one prodigy player in each team to ensure a good mix of talent. The format shall also be double round-robin, where each team will just play ten matches.
Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, expressed his optimism for a successful second season. He was quoted saying in a press release:
“After a fantastic response to the inaugural season, we are excited to continue our mission of expanding the reach of chess worldwide and drawing in new experiences for chess fans.
Tech Mahindra’s commitment to usher in a new era in the modern chess ecosystem is commendable, and we are confident that the second edition of the league will provide the right platform and push needed to further elevate the sport.”
The format is such that every match must be played on six boards as a best-of-six-board scoring system. So each team plays five matches where all six players start with the same color against their opponents, switching colors and playing a reverse round, and then five more matches against the same opponents.
Points are won for wins and draws across all six games within a match; the aggregation of the points won then decides the winner. The top two teams at the end of the round-robin stage will advance into the final round to compete for the Global Chess League.
How does the new format of the Global Chess League provide a fair chance of playing?
This new format is conceptualized to heighten competitive spirit and give players an absolutely level playing field where grandmasters at the peak of their powers and wonder kids can showcase their skills. Due to the unique structure, each player has a fair chance of competing under diversified conditions within the event.
Mohit Joshi, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tech Mahindra, said:
“Chess and business share key values such as planning, speed, strategy, and risk management. The infusion of technology opens exciting new opportunities, transforming both fields. The Global Chess League’s second edition creates a unique platform for the global growth of Chess.”
The venue, Friends House in London, will lend an excellent setting to the high-stakes competition, further raising the prestige of the Global Chess League. This tournament is sure to produce exciting matches and demonstrate the global game aspect of chess—bringing players and fans together from all corners of the globe.
Talking about the innovative and creative format ahead of the 2024 season, Peeyush Dubey, Chairperson of the Global Chess League Board, said:
"We will continue to leverage the Global Chess League’s innovative format and next-gen technologies to captivate and engage fans worldwide. The second edition is seeing unprecedented excitement from our partners and stakeholders. Together with FIDE, our vision for the league is to bring the best from the chess world.”