Global Chess League unveils six franchises for its inaugural edition | Chess News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Global Chess League (GCL) on Monday unveiled the six franchises that will participate in its inaugural edition, taking place in Dubai from June 21 to July 2.
This collaboration between Tech Mahindra and the international chess federation (FIDE) will feature teams competing in a double round-robin, rapid format, with each team playing a minimum of 10 matches.
The GCL aims to promote team competition and will include men, women, and U-21 players in its lineup. The tournament will kick off with a players’ draft, where franchise owners will have the opportunity to select players for their respective teams.
The six franchises and their associated teams are as follows: U SPORTS (upGrad Mumba Masters), Insurekot Sports (Ganges Grandmasters), Punit Balan Group (Balan Alaskan Knights), Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd (Triveni Continental Kings), Chingari App (Chingari Gulf Titans), and APL Apollo-led SG Sports (SG Alpine Warriors).
The league boasts the participation of renowned chess players from around the world, including Viswanathan Anand, Ding Liren, Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Hou Yifan, Kateryna Lagno, and many others.

The GCL promises an exciting and competitive environment as these top players come together to showcase their skills and represent their respective teams.
FIDE president, Arkady Dvorkovich, said he was looking forward to a successful inaugural edition.
“We are heading towards its actualisation, we have found the right partners who believe in the vision. (We) look forward to making the league a big success,” said Dvorkovich in a statement on Monday.
Jagdish Mitra, chairperson, GCL Board said, “the tournament will blend traditional chess with the new era” and will aim to “enhance fan experience through digitization, innovation, and technology.”
The GCL will feature a mixed-team format. Each of the six franchises will participate in a double round-robin style, playing a total of 10 matches.
In each match, the teams will compete simultaneously on multiple boards, employing a best-of-six board scoring system. This means that the team with the majority of wins across the six boards will be declared the winner of the match.
Following the round-robin stage, the top two teams with the best performance will advance to the final. The final match, scheduled for July 2, will determine the World Champion Franchise Team.
The introduction of the mixed-team format adds an exciting dynamic to the tournament, allowing players to collaborate and strategise as a team while showcasing their individual skills on the chessboard.