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Global Chess League, day four: Midway through the League Alaskan Knights remain unbeaten at the top

Published

2 years ago

October 7, 2024

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On day four, the Knights narrowly edged out the Alpine SG Pipers with a 9–7 score, despite their top player, Anish Giri, blundering a piece and losing to Magnus Carlsen in just 20 minutes. With 15 match points and 58 game points, the Alaskan Knights maintain a commanding lead, making the league increasingly feel like a one-horse race.

Defending champions, Triveni Continental Kings climbed to second place after defeating the upGrad Mumba Masters. Their team icon, Alireza Firouzja, continued his winning streak by defeating France’s top-rated player, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Though just three game points behind the leaders, Triveni has recorded three wins and two losses, earning them nine match points and 55 game points. Meanwhile, the upGrad Mumba Masters sit in fifth place with only three match points.

An epic encounter between Carlsen and Nakamura highlighted the final match of the day between the Alpine SG Pipers and the American Gambits. Both players traded winning positions in a time scramble, and the duel ultimately ended in a draw. The match came down to the youth board, where Daniel Darda defeated Jonas Bjerre, securing a narrow 9–7 victory for the Alpine SG Pipers, which placed them in third place with nine match points and 43 game points.

With one win and one loss in today’s matches, the American Gambits hold fourth place with six match points and 33 game points.

At the bottom of the standings, the Ganges Grandmasters continue to struggle, having lost their match today to the American Gambits. Former World Champion Vishy Anand fell to World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura after sacrificing a queen for a drawing fortress, only to lose on time.

Here follows a closer look at the matches of the fourth day of the Tech Mahindra

American Gambits vs Ganges Grandmasters: Nakamura defeats Anand on time, as Ganges Grandmasters struggle

Day four of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League kicked off with a match between the American Gambits and the Ganges Grandmasters. With only one victory in three matches, the Gambits entered the day at the bottom of the standings. Just ahead of them, in fifth place, were the Ganges Grandmasters, who had played four matches but also secured only one win.

After the coin toss, it was decided that the Gambits would play with the white pieces. John Hinshaw, Chief Operating Officer of global banking giant HSBC, made the ceremonial first move.

On the Icon board, world number two and popular chess streamer Hikaru Nakamura surprised former World Champion and Ganges leader Vishy Anand with an unexpected opening. Despite the early surprise, Anand, playing Black, equalized quickly, and the game remained balanced for most of its duration. However, as time became a factor, Anand made a bold decision—sacrificing his queen for a rook and a bishop in hopes of building a “fortress,” a defensive setup where one side has a material disadvantage but can avoid being checkmated. Nakamura maintained the pressure, forcing Anand to spend more time on the clock. In the final seconds, Anand’s hand was visibly trembling, and Nakamura ultimately claimed victory, leveraging the time pressure.

On the women’s board, Ganges’ Nurgyul Salimova launched an aggressive attack against Elisabeth Paehtz, but the German defended brilliantly, winning a piece and securing victory for the Gambits. On the second Icon board, Parham Maghsoodloo held Wei Yi to a draw after a rapid series of moves led to a threefold repetition.

Other games ended in draws, including Bibisara Assaubayeva vs. Vaishali R, Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Arjun Erigaisi, and juniors Jonas Bjerre vs. Volodar Murzin. The Gambits claimed a 10-4 win, their second victory in four matches, while the Ganges Grandmasters face serious trouble after four losses in five games.

Alpine Sg Pipers vs PBG Alaskan Knights: PBG secures last-second victory as Giri makes a stunning blunder

In the second match of the day, tournament leaders PBG Alaskan Knights faced a tough challenge from the third-placed Alpine Sg Pipers. Despite winning the coin toss, the Pipers opted to play with the black pieces, a decision influenced by Magnus Carlsen after team captain Pravin Thipsay initially wanted to take White.

The match’s biggest upset occurred on the Icon board, where Anish Giri blundered a piece against Magnus Carlsen, losing in just 22 moves. This was the shortest game of the league so far, lasting only 20 minutes.

On the superstars’ board, Mamedyarov drew with Rapport, while Abdusattorov delivered a crushing victory over Praggnanandhaa in a rook endgame, scoring a first win for PBG. The momentum shifted further in favor of the Alaskan Knights when Tan Zhongyi, in a duel of former world champions, defeated Hou Yifan, currently the top-rated woman player. Kashlinskaya and Lagno drew on the women’s board, bringing the score to 8-6 for PBG.

The drama escalated on the final board in play, where PBG’s Nihal Sarin was completely winning against Daniel Dardha but faced severe time pressure. With just three seconds left, Sarin claimed a draw under the rules which allow a player who is winning to claim a draw in the last two minutes of the game if he is losing on the clock. Had he not done so and Dardha won on time, the Alaskan Knights would have secured the match win.

With this 9-7 victory, the PBG Alaskan Knights extended their winning streak to five rounds.

Mumba Masters vs Triveni Continental Kings: Firouzja leads Triveni to second place in the League

Season one champions, Triveni, kicked off their first match of the day playing as White against the Mumba Masters. Despite winning the coin toss, the Mumba Masters chose to play as Black. At this stage, both teams had accumulated six match points, though Triveni held a decisive advantage in game points, leading 43 to 29.

Triveni’s Icon player, Alireza Firouzja, continued his impressive form against top-tier opponents, comfortably defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. On board two, Wei Yi secured a victory over Gujrathi, while Gunina triumphed over Harika Dronavalli on the women’s board. With the remaining games ending in draws, Triveni emerged with a commanding 12-3 win.

This victory propelled Triveni to second place, with a total of nine match points and 55 game points.

Alpine Sg Pipers v American Gambits: Carlsen vs. Nakamura ends in dramatic draw as SG Pipers edge American Gambits 9-7

In the final match of the day, Alpine SG Pipers faced off against the American Gambits. Playing as White, the Pipers had won the tournament’s last coin toss. This match marked the midpoint of the event, with 15 more matches to follow.

In one of the most anticipated encounters of the League, Magnus Carlsen, playing White, took on Hikaru Nakamura. Carlsen quickly took the initiative, but Nakamura held firm with strong defensive play. At one stage, Nakamura was on the verge of defeat, but under time pressure, Carlsen blundered, handing over the winning position. Both players made additional errors in the time scramble, and the game ended with Nakamura securing a draw through a perpetual check.

Shortly after, two more games also concluded in draws. However, victories by Hou Yifan (Sg Alpine) over Assaubayeva and Paehtz (American Gambits) over Lagno tipped the score to 7-6 in favor of the American Gambits. The final outcome hinged on the youth board, where SG Pipers’ Daniel Darda applied relentless pressure on Jonas Bjerre. In time trouble, Bjerre blundered a rook, sealing the victory for the Pipers with a final score of 9-7.

Related Topics:#globalchessleague #globalchessleague2024 #globalchessleagueseason2

Staff Reporter

Sports

FIFA confirms final squads for biggest World Cup in history

Published

15 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered a new phase after FIFA officially released the final squad lists for the tournament, confirming a record 1,248 players across 48 national teams.

The expanded competition, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, will be the largest World Cup ever staged, featuring 104 matches and more participating nations than any previous edition.

Messi and Ronaldo set for historic milestone

Among the biggest storylines is the inclusion of football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are both set to make history by appearing in their sixth FIFA World Cup.

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is also on course for a sixth World Cup campaign, placing him alongside the sport’s most enduring international stars.

New faces and new nations

While several football icons return, the tournament will also introduce a new generation of talent.

A total of 891 players are preparing for their first World Cup appearance, while 357 have previously been named in at least one tournament squad.

Four countries — Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan — will make their World Cup debuts, reflecting the broader opportunities created by the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams.

Youngest and oldest players

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon enters the tournament as the oldest player selected at 43 years old, while Mexico’s Gilberto Mora is the youngest squad member at just 17.

The final lists include 22 players under the age of 20 and seven players aged 40 or above when the tournament begins.

Truly global competition

The 1,248 selected players represent 449 clubs from 71 countries, highlighting football’s increasingly global footprint.

Some nations have leaned heavily on domestic talent. Qatar and Saudi Arabia selected 25 of their 26 players from local clubs, demonstrating the strength of their domestic leagues.

Others have taken the opposite approach. Cabo Verde, DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Curaçao, Senegal and Uruguay have chosen squads made up entirely of players based overseas.

World Cup set for new era

With 48 teams, 104 matches and a record number of players, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be the most expansive edition in the tournament’s history.

The final squad announcements now set the stage for a month-long celebration of football, where established superstars, emerging talents and debut nations will all compete on the sport’s biggest stage.

Sports

Praggnanandhaa beats Carlsen again as Norway Chess title race narrows

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15 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Michael Gomes

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India’s Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu delivered one of the standout moments of Norway Chess 2026, defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen for the second consecutive time and keeping himself firmly in contention for the title.

Round eight in Oslo proved pivotal, with two decisive classical victories reshaping the leaderboard heading into the final stages of the tournament.

Playing with the black pieces, Praggnanandhaa held his ground in a closely fought contest before capitalising on Carlsen’s time pressure late in the game. The Indian grandmaster seized his opportunity with precision, converting his advantage into a memorable victory over the hometown favourite.

The result keeps Praggnanandhaa within touching distance of the leaders and adds another chapter to his growing rivalry with the world’s top-ranked player.

Firouzja closes gap on Wesley So

Elsewhere, Alireza Firouzja boosted his title hopes with an important classical win over reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.

The French-Iranian star handled a tense endgame confidently and emerged victorious after both players faced severe time pressure. The win moves Firouzja to just one point behind tournament leader Wesley So.

Meanwhile, So maintained his lead after drawing his classical game against Vincent Keymer before securing additional points in the Armageddon tiebreak.

Updated standings

With one round remaining, the battle for first place remains wide open:

Wesley So – 14 points
Alireza Firouzja – 13 points
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu – 12 points

Assaubayeva strengthens grip

In Norway Chess Women, Bibisara Assaubayeva took a major step towards the title with a crucial victory over Divya Deshmukh.

Playing with the black pieces, the Kazakh star weathered early pressure before turning the tables as her opponent ran low on time. The win extends her lead at the top of the standings.

Zhu Jiner also enjoyed a successful day, defeating Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun to move level with Divya in the race for second place.

Meanwhile, Anna Muzychuk and Humpy Koneru shared the points in classical play before Humpy claimed the extra Armageddon point.

Norway Chess women’s standings

Bibisara Assaubayeva – 15.5 points
Anna Muzychuk – 10.5 points
Divya Deshmukh – 10 points
Zhu Jiner – 10 points

With the tournament entering its final stretch, both events remain finely poised, setting up an exciting finish in Oslo.

Sports

Norway Chess 2026: Praggnanandhaa beats Firouzja as Wesley So retains lead

Published

2 days ago

June 2, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The battle for the Norway Chess 2026 title took another dramatic turn in Round Seven as Indian Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament, defeating Alireza Firouzja in a crucial classical encounter that reshaped the leaderboard.

With the competition entering its decisive stages in Oslo, every point is proving vital, and Praggnanandhaa’s victory could have major implications for the title race.

Praggnanandhaa delivers statement victory

Facing one of the tournament favourites, Praggnanandhaa displayed remarkable composure and precision throughout a lengthy battle against Firouzja. After gradually building an advantage, the Indian star converted his position with impressive technique, securing a full classical win and three valuable points.

The defeat marks Firouzja’s second classical loss of the tournament and significantly tightens the race at the top.

For Praggnanandhaa, the result keeps him firmly in contention and reinforces his growing reputation as one of the most dangerous competitors on the global chess circuit.

Carlsen stays within reach

Home favourite and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen remained firmly in the hunt after drawing his classical game against Vincent Keymer.

The Norwegian star was unable to find a breakthrough during the regular encounter, but once again demonstrated his trademark fighting spirit in the Armageddon playoff. Carlsen emerged victorious in the tiebreak, collecting the additional points needed to stay within striking distance of the tournament leader.

With several rounds still to play, Carlsen remains a serious threat as he seeks another Norway Chess title on home soil.

Gukesh claims Armageddon success

The clash between reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and tournament leader Wesley So also went the distance.

After an intense and closely balanced classical game ended in a draw, the players headed into Armageddon, where Gukesh emerged victorious. While So missed out on the extra points, he did enough to retain his place at the top of the standings.

Standings after round seven

Despite the setback, Wesley So continues to lead the tournament with 12.5 points.

Current standings:

Wesley So – 12.5 points
Alireza Firouzja – 10 points
Magnus Carlsen – 9 points
Vincent Keymer – 9 points
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu – 9 points

With only a handful of rounds remaining, the fight for the title remains wide open.

Assaubayeva strengthens grip on women’s tournament

The women’s tournament also produced a pivotal round, with Bibisara Assaubayeva taking a major step towards the title.

Playing with the white pieces against Zhu Jiner, the Kazakh star seized control after a complex middlegame and converted her advantage with confidence. The classical victory earned her the full three points and extended her lead at the top of the standings.

Divya Deshmukh keeps pressure on

Indian talent Divya Deshmukh continued her impressive campaign despite drawing her classical game against Humpy Koneru.

The youngster bounced back strongly in Armageddon, defeating Koneru with the black pieces to secure the additional points and maintain her position as Assaubayeva’s closest challenger.

Muzychuk remains in contention

Another key battle saw Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun face Anna Muzychuk.

After a hard-fought classical draw, Muzychuk claimed victory in the Armageddon playoff, collecting crucial points that keep her firmly in the title race heading into the final rounds.

Norway Chess women’s standings

Following Round Seven:

Bibisara Assaubayeva – 12.5 points
Divya Deshmukh – 10 points
Anna Muzychuk – 9.5 points

A thrilling finish awaits

As Norway Chess 2026 enters its closing stages, both tournaments remain finely poised. While Wesley So continues to lead the open event, challengers led by Carlsen and Praggnanandhaa are closing in.

Meanwhile, Assaubayeva has strengthened her grip on the women’s competition, but with Divya Deshmukh and Anna Muzychuk still within reach, the race for the title is far from over.

With every draw leading to high-stakes Armageddon battles and every point carrying enormous significance, fans can expect even more drama before the champions are crowned in Oslo.