MUMBAI
The excitement for the fourth season of the Global Chess League (GCL) is reaching a fever pitch. Officials confirmed that the Season 4 Player Draft will take place in Mumbai on July 29, setting the stage for the tournament, which will be hosted in Bengaluru from September 3rd to 13th.
This season marks a major return for chess legend Magnus Carlsen, who is back in the mix after a one-year hiatus. Adding to the star power is the debut of current FIDE Women’s World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh, who joins a deep talent pool featuring 36 of the world’s elite Grandmasters.
The GCL has revolutionized the game with its franchise-based mixed-team format. Teams are composed of six players across four categories – Icons, Superstar Men, Superstar Women, and Prodigies. The upcoming draft will see six franchises including the Mumba Masters and defending champions Alpine SG Pipers competing to build the most balanced rosters.
“Season 4 continues our journey with an outstanding player pool,” said Peeyush Dubey, Chairperson of the Global Chess League. He noted that bringing the event to Bengaluru, a city with a profound chess culture, is a major milestone for the league.
With icons like Viswanathan Anand and Koneru Humpy joining rising stars like Leon Luke Mendonca in the draft pool, the competition for squad depth will be fierce. As franchises prepare their strategies in Mumbai, fans are eagerly awaiting the opening moves in Bengaluru this September.
