Mumbai, Dec 23 (NationPress) The Alpine SG Pipers stunned the two-time champions, Triveni Continental Kings, to secure their victory in the third season of the Global Chess League (GCL) at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai this Tuesday.

Having narrowly clinched their place in the final, defeating the Ganges Grandmasters by just one game point, the Pipers showcased their strength in the final match, winning the initial rapid game 4-2 with black pieces and following it up with a decisive 4.5-1.5 victory with white.

The finale of GCL Season 3 met expectations, with the final day's events being as unpredictable as the earlier stages of the league.

Entering as the favorites, the Continental Kings faced a formidable challenge from the Pipers, who had gained momentum in the latter part of the league. Key players Nino Batsiashvili and Leon Luke Mendonca proved their worth by winning their respective matches.

Nino triumphed over Alexandra Kosteniuk in a bishop-knight endgame, while Mendonca forced Marc’Andria Maurizzi to resign after 52 moves.

While Alireza Firouzja of the Continental Kings managed to defeat Fabiano Caruana on the icon board, Anish Giri's victory over Wei Yi ensured the Pipers took the lead in the first match, 4-2.

Facing an uphill battle, the Continental Kings needed four points with black to stay competitive. R Praggnanandhaa gave the Pipers an early edge with his win over Vidit Gujrathi and followed it with another victory against Wei Yi, solidifying their triumph. Giri, named Player of the Match for his two wins, expressed relief at the team’s performance.

On the icon board, Caruana managed to claim a point against Firouzja, who ran out of time. Firouzja, with a flawless record in the first five matches, was honored as the Male Player of the Tournament, while Hou Yifan was recognized as the Female Player of the Tournament for her significant contributions to the Pipers.

“It feels incredible. In the last two seasons, we were close to the finals. We barely made it this time, but everyone delivered their best performance in the final,” said Praggnanandhaa.

Earlier, world champion Dommaraju Gukesh finally achieved victory against the legendary Viswanathan Anand when it mattered most, helping the PBG Alaskan Knights secure third place. The playoff was tightly contested as the Ganges Grandmasters initially led 4-2 in the first rapid game, only for the Alaskan Knights to equalize and push the match into a blitz tie-break.

Anand bested Gukesh in the first playoff game and drew the second, indicating his advantage over the reigning champion. However, Gukesh’s teammate Arjun Erigaisi dominated Vicent Keymer, and together with other teammates, they leveled the match.

The Alaskan Knights capitalized on their momentum, winning the first blitz tie-break 3.5-2.5, with Arjun, Kateryna Lagno, and Sara Khadem each scoring a full point. In a thrilling finale, Gukesh emerged victorious against Anand, clinching the third-place trophy for the Knights.