Global Chess League Returns to London

The second season of the Global Chess League (GCL), an FIDE and Tech Mahindra project is set for the London leg from the 3rd to 12th of October this year. 

This league is set to change how fans consume chess in an easily understandable way. No more one-on-one affairs – the GCL will consist of teams of five players each, many of whom are current champions, newcomers, and participants of the previous big tournaments, playing together in teams and focusing on their cooperation.

Also Read: Norway Chess 2024: Magnus Carlsen wins the Title, Praggnanandhaa finishes 3rd

Why London? Why Now? 

GCL first season was a success for the organizers and they are promising more for the second series of the show. Hence, the choice of the capital city of United Kingdom with increasing popularity among chess lovers was dictated by the fans. Sitting in Europe, this position enables the GCL to benefit from increasing interest in chess being experienced in Europe. 

The GCL isn’t only about competing but it’s also about engaging chess enthusiasts all over the world. Here’s what you can expect:

• Live Broadcasts: Catch all the action live, with exciting commentary and in-depth analysis.
• Interactive Fan Activities: Get involved! From online discussions to interactive quizzes, the GCL will keep you engaged.
• Community Engagement: Be part of a global chess community. The soon-to-be-launched Global Chess League Trophy Tour promises to bring the excitement to your city!

A Unique Team Format

Gone are the days of individual battles. The GCL features a unique team format with six players per team, including two top women chess players and a rising prodigy. Each team will play a total of 10 matches, using a “double round-robin” format. Here’s how it works:

• Imagine two teams, A and B. They will play each other twice – once with Team A starting and once with Team B starting.
• Each team match will be decided by the best-of-six board scoring system. Six individual games will be played simultaneously, and whichever team wins the most individual games wins the match.

FIDE and Tech Mahindra

It is an accomplishment of a solid alliance between FIDE which provides governance in chess and Tech Mahindra which is in the technological service provision. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich stressed the league’s capacity for raising chess to a new level across the globe; Tech Mahindra CEO Mohit Joshi pointed to the relationship between chess and business as the strategy, which is based on the innovation process. 

The GCL as an event is all about defying the norm. To engage the audience even more this league is currently holding an ‘all-inclusive hackathon’. This is a process where the participants regardless of their skill level keep coming up with new ideas on how chess can be better experienced, played, and consumed. These ideas could be of educational aids or even the new digital technology.

The second season of the GCL is expected to be more grander than the first one if the plan is put into effect. As for the specifics of the league formats, Information Technologies, and entertainment and fans’ involvement, the league’s vision is to make football exciting to fans across the world. Thus, no matter if you are a long-standing chess lover or an interested newcomer, the GCL has it all for you.