Global Chess League returns to India for fourth season

The fourth season of the Global Chess League GCL, a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, will be held in India, aiming to leverage the countrys booming chess culture, the tournament organisers announced on Friday.

The fourth season of the Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, will be held in India, aiming to leverage the country's booming chess culture, the tournament organisers announced on Friday. The host city will be revealed soon, the GCL said. The third season of the event was held in Mumbai last December, in which Alpine SG Pipers emerged triumphant. The league has already changed the format of the game, and it will continue its emphasis on rapid-fire matches, mixed-gender teams, and high-intensity competition to promote chess as a premier spectator sport. Gourav Rakshit, commissioner, Global Chess League, said, ''India's passion for the game and its rapidly growing chess ecosystem make it a natural destination for the league. We look forward to another exciting season that brings together the world's best players and a global fanbase.'' The Season 4 will once again bring together the world's leading players in a team-based format. Arkady Dvorkovich, president, FIDE, said, ''The Global Chess League has introduced a new energy to the sport by combining world-class competition with an engaging team format that appeals to new and existing audiences alike.''