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Cream of chess world descends in Dubai for GCL

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The inaugural edition of Global Chess League will be held in Dubai from June 22 to July 2, featuring the world’s strongest players, including world champions (active and former) in all three chess categories – classical, rapid and blitz. A global hub, the Emirate will be at the centre of the chess world for two weeks.

This is the second most important chess event held in Dubai, following the match for the title of World Chess Champion in 2021. This unparalleled gathering will showcase 36 top-ranked players categorized as Chess Icons, Superstars, and Prodigies (those born in 2002 and later), vying for the ultimate glory.

Anand Mahindra , chairman of Tech Mahindra, third from left, addresses the media. Supplied

 

The cream of the crop:

The very best in the chess world today will take part in this event as members of six different teams. Leading them will be the former world champion in classical chess, and reigning world champion in rapid and blitz, Magnus Carlsen.

Joining Carlsen in the pool of players tipped as ‘Chess Icons’, are – fellow former world champion, Viswanathan Anand, two-time challenger for the title of World Champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, former Blitz world champion Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, as well the 2021 winner of the chess World Cup Jan-Krzysztof Duda.

The pool of Superstars includes Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2021 world rapid champion), Alexander Grischuk (three-time world blitz champion) and Daniil Dubov (2018 world rapid champion), as well as a score of top-Indian players such as Vidit Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi and Gukesh D.

The world’s leading women players are also taking part, including Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk (who held titles of world champion in classical and rapid chess), Kateryna Lagno (two times world blitz champion and once a world rapid champion), and world-leading players Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. The event in Dubai will also feature a surprising return to the board of Hou Yifan, a four-time world champion who has in recent years dedicated herself to a career in academia.

The teams:

The Global Chess League, the first global chess franchise of its kind, brings together distinguished sports entrepreneurs as franchise owners. Leading global and Indian companies such as U SPORTS, Insurekot Sports (ISPL), Punit Balan Group, Triveni Group (Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd. and Triveni Turbine Ltd.), Chingari App, and APL Apollo-led SG Sports all own one team each taking part in the competition.

The event will feature six teams, made up of six players. Each team will consist of one Icon player, two male players, two female players and one prodigy player (those born in 2002 and later).

The teams are:

  • Ganges Grandmasters {owned by Insurekot Sports (ISPL)}
  • Triveni Continental Kings {owned by Triveni Group (Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd. and Triveni Turbine Ltd.)}
  • SG Alpine Warriors (owned by APL Apollo-led SG Sports)
  • Chingari Gulf Titans {owned by Chingari App (Tech4Billion Group)}
  • upGrad Mumba Masters (owned by U SPORTS)
  • Balan Alaskan Knights (owned by Punit Balan Group (PBG)

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Big Ticket joins DP World ILT20 Season 4 as official partner, raffle draw postponed to next Sharjah match

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Big Ticket, the Middle East’s largest and longest-running guaranteed raffle draw, has joined DP World International League T20 Season 4 as an Official Partner, bringing fans closer to dreams of luxury cars, gold, and cash prizes.

The 34-match T20 extravaganza, featuring six teams and some of the world’s top cricket stars, is underway across Dubai International Stadium, Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi), and Sharjah Cricket Stadium, concluding with the final on January 4, 2026. 

Tickets start at Dh20, with hospitality packages from Dh325 and the Sixes Lounge experience available at Dh395. Bookings can be done via Virgin Megastore.

DP World ILT20 Head of Partnerships Ishan Chopra said, “We are thrilled to welcome a UAE-born brand like Big Ticket to Season 4. Their legacy of turning dreams into reality aligns perfectly with our vision of fan-first experiences both on and off the field. Together, we aim to elevate excitement and engagement for all cricket fans.”

Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals shifted to Dubai

Due to rain forecasts in Sharjah, the Friday, December 19 match between Sharjah Warriorz and Dubai Capitals has been relocated to Dubai International Stadium, starting at 6:30pm. Ticket holders, however, will remain eligible for the raffle draw, which will now take place during the next Sharjah match on December 21 between the Gulf Giants and Dubai Capitals.

About Big Ticket:

  • Launched in 1992 at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
  • Offers cash prizes and dream luxury cars, with grand prizes now up to Dh35 million.
  • Tickets for the Big Ticket Millionaire cost Dh500 (buy two, get one free), and Dream Car tickets cost Dh150 (buy two, get one free).
  • Instagram: @bigticketauh | Facebook: Big Ticket Abu Dhabi

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DPWorldILT20: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders seal second straight win with four-wicket victory over Gulf Giants

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Abu Dhabi Knight Riders continued their upward momentum in DP World ILT20 Season 4 with a composed four-wicket win over Gulf Giants at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday, climbing from sixth to fourth on the points table.

Chasing 166, Knight Riders were powered by a fluent opening stand between Alex Hales (46 off 39) and Phil Salt (35 off 24), who added 61 runs in 44 balls to lay a solid platform. The chase was then finished calmly by Sherfane Rutherford (30 off 22) and Andre Russell (21 not out off 13), despite a late fightback from Tabraiz Shamsi, who claimed 3 for 23.

Earlier, leg-spinner Piyush Chawla delivered a match-winning spell of 4 for 27 to restrict the Giants to 165 for 7, neutralising Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s commanding 72 off 45 balls.

Salt set the tone early with aggressive strokeplay in the powerplay, including a 17-run over off Fred Klaassen that also took him past 8,000 T20 runs. Although Shamsi struck twice to briefly stall the chase, removing Salt and Liam Livingstone, Hales held firm through the middle overs.

Rutherford shifted momentum decisively with a flurry of boundaries off Moeen Ali, before Russell absorbed pressure late on. Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, the West Indian all-rounder sealed the chase with a towering six in the final over, finishing the match with four balls to spare.

Gulf Giants had earlier threatened a much bigger total after Gurbaz dominated the innings. The Afghan opener shared useful stands with Pathum Nissanka and James Vince before bringing up his half-century off just 32 balls. However, Chawla triggered a collapse in the middle and death overs, removing key batters and ensuring the Giants lost momentum sharply after reaching 132 for 4.

Player of the Match Chawla said his continued success came from “experimenting with angles and flight” to keep batters guessing, while Giants captain James Vince admitted his side fell “20 to 30 runs short” after a promising start.






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DP World T20: MI Emirates defend modest total to beat Dubai Capitals by 7 runs

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MI Emirates produced a remarkable late turnaround to beat the Dubai Capitals by seven runs at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday, successfully defending a modest total of 137 in the DP World ILT20.

Jonny Bairstow’s fluent half-century laid the foundation, but it was a collective bowling effort,  led by Rashid Khan, that turned the match on its head after the Capitals appeared firmly in control of the chase.

Chasing 138, the Capitals made a confident start despite losing Leus du Plooy early. Shayan Jahangir and Jordan Cox kept the scoreboard moving, racing to 51 inside the powerplay and putting the Capitals well ahead of the required rate.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically once Rashid Khan entered the attack. Jahangir was outfoxed soon after the powerplay, triggering a collapse that saw the Capitals lose wickets at regular intervals. Rashid removed Rovman Powell before Kamindu Mendis cleaned up captain Dasun Shanaka, reducing the Capitals to 94 for four in the 14th over.

With the asking rate climbing, pressure mounted on Cox, who had anchored the innings. His dismissal in the 18th over — followed swiftly by Mohammad Nabi — proved decisive as Naveen-ul-Haq and Romario Shepherd closed out the innings. The Capitals were eventually bowled out for 130.

Earlier, MI Emirates were kept quiet in the powerplay by disciplined new-ball bowling from the Capitals. Bairstow broke free after the seventh over, launching a counterattack that included a 30-ball half-century, highlighted by eight fours and three sixes.

Muhammad Jawadullah struck twice in quick succession to remove Bairstow and Nicholas Pooran, while Mustafizur Rahman ripped through the middle and lower order. An unbeaten cameo from Romario Shepherd helped MI Emirates reach 137 for eight.

Rashid Khan, named Player of the Match for his two-wicket spell, praised the team effort. “Today was a proper team performance, especially with the ball and in the field,” he said.

The win takes MI Emirates to six points and lifts them into third place on the Season 4 points table, replacing the Dubai Capitals.

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