Global Chess League: Schedule, Teams, Format & How To Watch

The league aims to take the game to millions of fans with new and innovative formats, bringing a new perspective to the game.

Komal Jain

21 Jun 2023, 08:28 PM IST i

Source: Global Chess League

The inaugural edition of the Global Chess League (GLC) got underway on Wednesday with a grand opening ceremony in Dubai. The tournament is a joint venture by Tech Mahindra and International Chess Federation (FIDE).

Global Chess League describes itself as the "world's first and largest official franchise chess league bringing fans together to witness the game in a never-seen-before avatar."

GCL is the only league in pro sports with a joint team format, featuring both men and women players in the same team, competing for the ultimate prize, according to the information available on its website.

The league aims to take the game to millions of fans with new and innovative formats, bringing in a new perspective to the game of chess.

Here is all you need to know about the Global Chess League:

Global Chess League (GLC): Format

There will be six teams competing in the tournament with six players, including two women players in each team. The franchises will play 10 matches each in a round-robin format. Each match will feature six boards and the top two teams will qualify for the final.

The event consists of a preliminary group stage and a final contested between the top two teams. In each match, players of the same team play with the same color. All games are in the 15+10 time control.

Teams Composition

Each team has six players.
At least two players in each team must be women.
At least one player must have been born in 2002 or later.

Preliminary Stage

Six teams compete in a double round-robin, totaling 10 matches.

Final

The two teams with the most matchpoints play in the Final.
Teams play a best-of-two set of matches.
The team that wins the most matches is the champion.

Global Chess League (GLC): Points System

Teams earn game points (GP) and match points (MP) according to their performance.

Gamepoints

Four gamepoints for winning a game with Black.
Three gamepints for winning a game with White.
One gamepoint for a draw.
Zero gamepoints for a loss.

Matchpoints

Three matchpoints for teams that score more gamepoints than their opposing team.
One matchpoint for teams who score the same gamepoints as their opposing teams.
Zero matchpoints for the teams that score fewer gamepoint than their opposing teams.

When Does The Global Chess League Start?

The tournament will begin on Thursday, June 22 and the final will be held on July 2.

Global Chess League: Teams

The league features six participating teams, each representing different regions and boasting a roster of talented players:

Triveni Continental Kings
UpGrad Mumba Masters
Chingari Gulf Titans
Ganges Grandmasters
Alpine Warriors
Balan Alaskan Knights

The players have been divided into 'icons', 'superstars' and 'prodigies'. Each team will have one 'icon' and one 'progidy'. The rest are 'superstars' who have been divided among the six teams.

The Icons are:

Balan Alaskan Knights: Ian Nepomniachtchi
Mumbai Masters: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Ganges Grandmasters: Viswanathan Anand
Triveni Continental Kings: Levon Aronian
Chingari Gulf Titans: Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Alpine Warriors: Magnus Carlsen

The Prodigies are:

Balan Alaskan Knights: Raunak Sadhwani
Mumba Masters: Javokhir Sindarov
Ganges Grandmasters: Andrey Esipenko
Triveni Continental Kings: Jonas Buhl Bjerre
Chingari Gulf Titans: Nihal Sarin
Alpine Warriors: Praggnanandhaa R

The Superstars are:

Balan Alaskan Knights: Teimour Radjabov, Tan Zhongyi, Nino Batsiashvili, Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Mumbai Masters: Alexander Grischuk, Konery Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Vidit Gujrathi
Ganges Grandmasters: Hou Yifan, Richard Rapport, Leinier Dominguez Perez, Bella Khotenashvili
Triveni Continental Kings: Kateryna Lagno, Yu Yangyi, Nana Dzagnidze, Wei Yi
Chingari Gulf Titans: Alexander Kosteniuk, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Polina Shuvalova, Danil Dubov
Alpine Warriors: Elisabeth Paehtz, Irina Krush, Gukesh D, Arjun Erigaise

6 teams, 36 players. Ready to battle it out for the ultimate chess championship. #GlobalChessLeague #TheBigMove #GCL #ChingariGulfTitans #BalanAlaskanKnights #GangesGrandmasters #upGradMumbaMasters #SGAlpineWarriors #TriveniContinentalKings pic.twitter.com/E4SPArnmV4
— Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (@GCLlive) June 20, 2023

How To Watch Global Chess League Online

The Global Chess League 2023 will be live streamed on the JioCinema app and website.