Mumbai, Sep 26 (NationPress) World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh joined forces with fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi, forming a formidable team as the Global Chess League (GCL) kicked off its third season with a thrilling player draft in Mumbai on Friday. The PBG Alaskan Knights made headlines by securing India's leading players, Gukesh and Arjun.

In a twist, the debuting American GM Wesley So ignited a fierce bidding frenzy before he was snapped up by the Mumba Masters, as six teams assembled their rosters. The league is set to unfold at Mumbai's Royal Opera House from December 13 to 24, 2025.

This season builds on the success of the previous events in Dubai (2023) and London (2024), marking GCL's inaugural presence in India—the birthplace of chess and the league concept.

The draft commenced with the Icon Round, where Alpine SG Pipers chose Fabiano Caruana, PBG Alaskan Knights narrowly outbid competitors to secure Gukesh, and the legendary five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand stayed with the Ganges Grandmasters.

Peeyush Dubey, Chairperson of the Global Chess League, remarked: “Bringing the GCL to India highlights the current standing of the sport. India is not only the origin of chess but also a rapidly growing hub, nurturing champions and inspiring countless enthusiasts.

“Simultaneously, GCL remains a truly global league, connecting players and fans from across the globe. The successful draft completion sets the stage for an extraordinary Season 3 at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House this December, as we continue our global journey,” he added.

In a dramatic twist, Mumba Masters aggressively pursued Wesley So, entering into a bidding clash with American Gambits and PBG Alaskan Knights before finally securing the American Grandmaster. The Ganges Grandmasters also strengthened their lineup with the addition of 20-year-old German talent Vincent Keymer.

Suhail Chandhok, CEO of Mumba Masters, expressed excitement after securing his top choice: “We aimed to keep the core of our team intact, which we did with Harika, Humpy, and MVL (Maxime Vachier-Lagrave). We checked most of our boxes, and acquiring Wesley So was a priority.”

The highlight of the draft was the battle for Erigaisi, which sparked a competitive three-way bidding war; ultimately, PBG Alaskan Knights emerged victorious, pairing him with Gukesh to create an ideal Indian duo.

“We had a significant challenge to select all six players, and we're thrilled to have World Champion Gukesh on our team, along with a well-rounded squad. We believe they (Gukesh & Arjun) will delight the fans with their performances. Hosting the league in India will undoubtedly bring more joy to our team,” said PBG Alaskan Knights’ Coach Abhijit Kunte.

Prior to the draft, four teams enhanced their rosters through retention. Alpine SG Pipers retained former women's World Champion Hou Yifan and R. Praggnanandhaa, while American Gambits secured Hikaru Nakamura and Bibisara Assaubayeva. Alireza Firouzja, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Wei Yi remained with Triveni Continental Kings after their title-winning season. Indian female stars Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli, along with GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, were retained by Mumba Masters.

“There’s a lot of dynamics and unpredictability in a draft; it resembles playing chess on a grander scale. I am thrilled that the tournament is coming to India, which I believe is the most vibrant country for chess today. We are very pleased with our selections,” said American Gambits’ Head Coach Shrinath Narayanan after the draft.

The Superstar Women round showcased Triveni Continental Kings' exceptional acquisition of Chinese Grandmaster Zhu Jiner after a tense bidding battle. Kateryna Lagno’s transfer to PBG Alaskan Knights further enhanced their squad, while Ganges and Alpine reinforced their line-ups with strategic picks.

“Our strategy was to assemble a highly competitive team with a killer instinct and good chemistry, as the psychology of the sport is quite serious. We wanted players who would work well together,” commented Akash Premsen, CEO of two-time reigning champions, Triveni Continental Kings.

The final round, featuring some of the chess world's brightest young talents, began with Ganges capturing Raunak Sadhwani and American Gambits acquiring Volodar Murzin. In response, PBG Alaskan Knights signed Daniel Dardha, while Alpine SG Pipers secured Leon Mendonca.

“We sought consistency and believed it was better to have balanced players, focusing on those who would perform well overall. We have a fantastic team with Fabiano Caruana, who is exceptional, and Pragg has been consistently performing. Hou Yifan is the world's top female player,” stated Alpine SG Pipers’ Head Coach Pravin Thipsay.

Discussing strategies on the sidelines, Ganges Grandmasters’ Head Coach Vishnu Prasad said, “Our primary goal was to form a young team—and we succeeded, apart from Vishy! I am very pleased with our selections. It’s a team event, and every player counts.”

The six-team franchise league, spanning 12 days, will use a double-round-robin format, with each team playing ten matches based on a best-of-six board system. A new feature this year is the GCL Contenders 2025, an international initiative that offers aspiring players a direct pathway to the GCL Draft.

Three winners from six different time zones will gain the unique opportunity to compete alongside Grandmasters in the world’s first franchise-based chess league.

Season 3, featuring six teams, is set to unfold at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House from December 13 to 24, 2025.

GCL Season 3 Squads:

American Gambits: Hikaru Nakamura, Richard Rapport, Vladislav Artemiev, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Teodora Injac, Volodar Murzin

Alpine SG Pipers: Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa R, Anish Giri, Hou Yifan, Nino Batsiashvili, Leon Mendonca

Ganges Grandmasters: Viswanathan Anand, Javokhir Sindarov, Vincent Keymer, Stavroula Tsolakidou, Polina Shuvalova, Raunak Sadhwani

upGrad Mumba Masters: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Wesley So, Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Bardiya Daneshvar

PBG Alaskan Knights: Gukesh D, Arjun Erigaisi, Leinier Dominguez, Sara Khadem, Kateryna Lagno, Daniel Dardha

Triveni Continental Kings: Alireza Firouzja, Yi Wei, Vidit Gujrathi, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Zhu Jiner, Marc’Andria Maurizzi

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