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

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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.

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President Faye opens Africa’s first Youth Olympic Games in a celebration of colour

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November 4, 2026

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There are the numbers: 2,650 athletes, 204 National Olympic Committees, 153 medal events. And there is what people will remember from the first Youth Olympic Games ever held in Africa: a burst of colour, from Diamniadio to Saly.

On Saturday 31 October, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared the Games open before 50,000 spectators at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio. On the field, 1,115 artists and performers, including 628 dancers, celebrated Senegalese culture and African heritage. For the first time, a Refugee Olympic Team is taking part in the Youth Olympic Games.

A host nation that dresses its Games

Senegal chose its palette with care. The mascot Ayo, unveiled a year earlier by President Faye alongside IOC President Kirsty Coventry, comes in vivid colours. The medal ceremony outfits, by Senegalese designer Abdou Lahad Gueye, feature touches of traditional woven cloth. In Senegal, textile is a language of its own.

In a country that dresses its Games so carefully, it is fitting that the host has a colour of his own. As the Presidency of the Republic of Senegal has noted, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s favourite colour is orange.

From Barcelona to Diamniadio

It is a rare personal note from a head of state who seldom talks about himself, and whose own story with the Olympics began as a spectator. In August 1992, aged twelve, he watched the Barcelona Games in his home village of Ndiaganiao. Thirty-four years later, he opened the first Olympic Games ever held on the continent. “Authentic Senegal! What a people! What a culture!” he wrote the day after the ceremony.

After the celebration, the legacy

Competition continues until 13 November in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. Dakar 2026 is the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games to achieve full gender parity, with 73 women’s events, 73 men’s events and seven mixed events. The President wants the momentum to outlast the Games: “In our country, sport has remained a passion. I want it to become an economy,” he told Le Soleil on 21 October.

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UAE cricketers get a front-row seat with biggest names at Abu Dhabi T10

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6 days ago

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October 30, 2026

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UAE cricketers will learn from some of the biggest names in the game at the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10, which runs from 7 to 20 November. Muhammad Waseem will share a dressing room with Nicholas Pooran. Alishan Sharafu will play under Moeen Ali. And Muhammad Rohid will bowl with Kieron Pollard setting his field, while Dwayne Bravo, one of T20 cricket’s most successful bowlers, works with him as UAE Bulls’ bowling coach and mentor.

Several UAE players were picked across the six franchises at the draft on 30 September, and the rules guarantee them time in the middle. Every playing XI must include at least two UAE players.

Royal Desert Champions have Waseem, Aayan Afzal Khan and Dhruv Parashar. Sharafu and Vriitya Aravind are at Arabian Aces, and Rohid and Wali Muhammad at UAE Bulls. Emirates Eagles picked Haider Razzaq, Luqman Faisal and Harshit Kaushik, United Tigers chose Awais Ali Shah and Adithya Shetty, and Yas Lions have Ansh Tandon and Haider Ali.

Several of them have already established their impact at this level. Waseem, the UAE stalwart scored 176 runs at a strike rate of 196 for Quetta Qavalry last season, with a best of 50 not out. Back in 2021 he made 56 not out off 13 balls for Northern Warriors, a half-century that equalled the T10 record for the fastest fifty at the time. He also holds a record US$210,000 contract in the DP World ILT20. Spinner Haider Ali played alongside former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla at Ajman Titans last season.

Sharafu has seen what this exposure can do. Five years from his debut in the competition, he is an established UAE international, and after playing alongside Moeen at Ajman Titans last season, he joins him again at Arabian Aces.

The opportunity reaches beyond the UAE. Netherlands spinner Aryan Dutt was picked by Yas Lions as their Associate Member selection, and Scotland’s Bradley Currie is at UAE Bulls. USA batter Andries Gous was one of Yas Lions’ three pre-draft signings after scoring 175 runs at a strike rate of 168.3 for Quetta Qavalry last season.

The coaching benches carry plenty of experience too. Andy Flower is head coach of UAE Bulls, Lance Klusener of Arabian Aces and Mickey Arthur of Emirates Eagles. Royal Desert Champions have Robin Singh as team director, and he knows the local game well from his time as the UAE’s director of cricket. At Arabian Aces, the younger players will train and play every day alongside Moeen Ali, Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone.

The first test comes on 7 November, when UAE Bulls and Yas Lions open the tournament at Zayed Cricket Stadium. The final is on 20 November.

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New-look Abu Dhabi T10 raises the stakes with star-studded 2026 draft; Naseem, Hales, Amir and Shanaka among top picks

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1 month ago

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October 2, 2026

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The 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 Player Draft saw a host of international stars find new homes ahead of the upcoming season, with Naseem Shah (Royal Desert Champions), Noor Ahmad (Emirates Eagles), Muhammad Amir (UAE Bulls), Alzarri Joseph (Arabian Aces), Dasun Shanaka (Yas Lions), Shadab Khan (UAE Bulls), Kusal Perera (Emirates Eagles) and Chris Jordan (Royal Desert Champions) among the headline names selected.

The Draft also saw several of the UAE’s leading players join the six franchises, underlining the growing depth of local talent in the reimagined Abu Dhabi T10. Alishan Sharafu (Arabian Aces), Aayan Afzal Khan (Royal Desert Champions), Muhammad Waseem (Royal Desert Champions), Haider Razzaq (Emirates Eagles), Muhammad Rohid (UAE Bulls), Ansh Tandon (Yas Lions) and Luqman Faisal (Emirates Eagles) were among the prominent UAE selections.

Awais Ali Shah (United Tigers), Dhruv Parashar (Royal Desert Champions), Harshit Kaushik (Emirates Eagles), Wali Muhammad (UAE Bulls), Adithya Shetty (United Tigers), Haider Ali (Yas Lions) and Vriitya Arvind (Arabian Aces) were also among those selected, further strengthening the UAE presence across the six squads.

The Arabian Aces will have plenty of experience and firepower in their ranks, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sam Billings and Imran Tahir among their notable draft selections. Alzarri Joseph, Richard Gleeson, Dwayne Pretorius and Dunith Wellalage add further bowling and all-round options to a squad that already featured Moeen Ali, Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone as pre-draft signings. The Aces also secured further local and emerging talent to complement their international core.

The Emirates Eagles’ batting stocks feature Alex Hales, KS Bharat, Hassan Nawaz and Kusal Perera, while David Wiese and Chris Green offer valuable all-round options. Noor Ahmad, Rehan Ahmed and Ali Raza further strengthen the bowling department, complementing pre-draft signings Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer and Trent Boult. 

The Royal Desert Champions assembled a formidable side led by the likes of Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera and Chris Jordan. Muhammad Waseem, Brandon King and Jayanth Liyanage add batting depth, while Gulbadin Naib and Keemo Paul provide all-round ability. The side already had Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt and Sherfane Rutherford on board as pre-draft signings.

The UAE Bulls have an abundance of power-hitting options through Andre Fletcher, Aneurin Donald, Khwaja Nafay, Max Bryan and Azam Khan, with Shadab Khan and Khushdil Shah offering all-round depth. Muhammad Amir and Nuwan Thushara add to the bowling attack, while the franchise had already secured Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Romario Shepherd before the Draft. Scotland’s Bradley Currie also joins the squad.

The United Tigers have established international experience with Azmatullah Omarzai, Odean Smith and Mahedi Hasan offering all-round options, while Abbas Afridi and Sufyan Moqim strengthen the bowling resources. The Tigers’ pre-draft haul comprised the Pakistani trio of Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed and Faheem Ashraf. 

The Yas Lions have plenty of experience with James Vince, Dasun Shanaka, Tom Moores and Akeal Hosein among their notable selections. Eshan Malinga and Obed McCoy build their bowling strength, while the Lions had already secured Jason Holder, David Willey and Andries Gous before the Draft. Netherlands’ Aryan Dutt also joins the squad as their Associate Member selection.

Arabian Aces: Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Liam Livingstone, Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Arfan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Richard Gleeson, Sam Billings, Paul Walter, Alzarri Joseph, Imran Tahir, Salman Irshad, Quentin Sampson, Dwaine Pretorius, Vriitya Arvind, Ibrahim Masood, Amshi De Silva, Dunith Wellalage

Emirates Eagles: Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Trent Boult, Haider Razzaq, Luqman Faisal, David Wiese, Noor Ahmad, Alex Hales, KS Bharat, Akif Javed, Hassan Nawaz, Rehan Ahmed, Ali Raza, Chris Green, Harshit Kaushik, Hilal Afghan, Toby Albert, Kusal Perera

Royal Desert Champions: Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford, Ali Naseer, Aayan Afzal Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Naseem Shah, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Luke Wood, Gulbadin Naib, Brandon King, Janith Liyanage, Keemo Paul, Dhruv Parashar, Raizal Nadir, Tajinder Singh Dhillon, Chris Jordan

UAE Bulls: Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Romario Shepherd, Muhammad Rohid, Tahir Zaman, Aneurin Donald, Muhammad Amir, Andre Fletcher, Khwaja Nafay, Nuwan Thushara, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Max Bryant, Azam Khan, Wali Muhammad, Uddish Suri, Bradley Currie, Shadab Khan

United Tigers: Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Zeeshan Naseer, Awais Ali Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sufyan Moqim, Abbas Afridi, Odean Smith, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Noor ul Rahman, Shamim Hossain, Adithya Shetty, Noor Ullah Ayubi, Paul van Meekeren, Yasin Patel

Yas Lions: Jason Holder, David Willey, Andries Gous, Ajay Kumar, Ansh Tandon, James Vince, Dasun Shanaka, Eshan Malinga, Karim Janat, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Tom Moores, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Obed McCoy, Kamil Pooran, Haider Ali, Masood Gurbaz, Aryan Dutt, Akeal Hosein

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