Legendary chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand recently welcomed India cricketer R Ashwin to the world of chess after the off-spinner was unveiled as the co-owner of a new franchise in the Global Chess League. Known for his remarkable cricketing career, Ashwin will now take on the role of co-owner of American Gambits, one of the six teams in the league. The Global Chess League is a joint venture between the world chess body (FIDE) and Tech Mahindra.
The Global Chess League: A Landmark Event
The second edition of the Global Chess League, featuring some of the top Grandmasters, will be held in London from October 3 to 12. R Ashwin will proudly co-own one of the franchises. Notably, the GCL is the first and world’s largest franchise-based team chess tournament.
“As someone who has bowled out the best in cricket, I’m sure you’ll bring the same competitive spirit to the Global Chess League with the American Gambits. May your rooks and bishops be as unstoppable as your off-spinners!” Viswanathan Anand said in a post on X.
A Unique Welcome from Viswanathan Anand
Anand’s warm welcome to Ashwin included a touch of the cricketer’s cultural favorites. He quoted a few lines from “Vetri Kodi Kattu,” a motivational song by AR Rahman from Rajinikanth’s blockbuster film “Padaiyappa,” leaving Ashwin thrilled.
Ashwin, an ardent chess fan, will co-own the franchise alongside business leaders Prachura PP and Venkat Narayana.
Teams Participating in the Second Edition
The second edition of the Global Chess League was unveiled on Monday, and along with Ashwin’s American Gambits, several other teams will participate:
- Alpine SG Pipers owned by APL Apollo-led SG Sports
- Ganges Grandmasters owned by Insurekot Sports
- Mumba Masters owned by Ronnie Screwvala-led Unilazer Ventures
- PBG Alaskan Knights owned by Punit Balan Group
- Triveni Continental Kings, the inaugural season champions, owned by Triveni Engineering & Industries Limited
Format of the Global Chess League
The tournament will feature a double round-robin format, with each team playing a total of 10 matches. The winner of each match will be decided in a best-of-six board scoring system. Each team will play ten matches across black and white pieces. Initially, teams will play five matches with all six players in each team using either the white or black pieces against their opponents. This will be followed by a reverse round in which the entire team will play five matches with reversed color pieces against the same opponent.
The winning team for each match will be determined by the points aggregated from wins and draws across all six games played. The top two teams will advance to the final round.
The Rising Popularity of Chess in India
The participation of high-profile personalities like R Ashwin in the Global Chess League highlights the growing popularity and recognition of chess in India. With the involvement of prominent business leaders and celebrated sports personalities, the league aims to bring chess to a wider audience and inspire future generations.
As we look forward to the second edition of the Global Chess League, the excitement and anticipation surrounding this unique intersection of sports and strategy continue to build, promising an engaging and competitive tournament.
