Global Chess League (GCL), a joint venture between the world governing body FIDE and Tech Mahindra, announced Dubai as the venue for the inaugural edition at a press conference today.

The world’s largest and first franchise-based chess league will be held in Dubai in association with Dubai Sports Council. The announcement came at the Millennium Plaza Downtown hotel in front of the Museum of the Future.

Luminous dignitaries such as Dr Aman Puri (Consul General of India, Dubai), Viswanathan Anand (five-time world champion, and FIDE deputy president), CP Gurnani, Tech Mahindra managing director and CEO) and Jagdish Mitra (GCL chairman) were present. Among those sending in their best wishes on social media were Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, the Dubai Sports Council chairman.

Dubai has been selected by the International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) to host the first-ever Global Chess League (@GCLlive) from June 21 to July 2, 2023, with top-notch players from across the world set to participate. We are proud of this new international recognition,… pic.twitter.com/wAdHOJS0wP

— Mansoor bin Mohammed (@sheikhmansoor) May 4, 2023

Saeed Hareb, secretary general, Dubai Sports Council, said: “Hosting the Global Chess League is a momentous occasion for us. FIDE and Tech Mahindra’s vision for the league will truly bring the sport of chess to a new audience and help existing fans relate to the sport more than ever before. Global Chess League is a first-of-its-kind tournament with a team vs team format that will bring together the best chess players from across the world, representing major countries and providing a unique experience to chess fans globally. We look forward to welcoming champions from across the world to Dubai, the growing sports capital.”

The Global Chess League will draw the world’s attention to a new chess format and create an ecosystem for the sport, providing a platform for champions worldwide to showcase the potential of chess.

Viswanathan Anand, five-time world chess champion, and deputy president, FIDE, said, “Dubai has been attracting various sporting events. The World Chess Championship in Dubai in 2021 during the Dubai Expo was a big success. Similarly, I believe the Global Chess League will mark a new beginning in fan experience. Its unique team format will contribute to the growth and development of chess. The league aims to revolutionize the game by having established and emerging talent play together on the same team. All players, including men, women, and juniors, would contribute equally to their team’s success. I look forward to a fantastic inaugural season.”

The first season, set to take place from June 21 to July 2, 2023, will feature six teams with six players each, including a minimum of two female players and one icon player per team. The six teams will compete in a round-robin format where each team will play 10 matches.

The FIDE president, Arkady Dvorkovich, said, “This city has established itself as a world-class events destination, and among many other major sporting events, it has hosted the FIDE World Championship Match 2021, which was a great success. Thanks to this experience, we couldn’t think of a better partner to deliver a memorable first edition of the Global Chess League.”

Each match will feature six boards that will be played simultaneously. The top two teams will qualify for the final and the winner will be crowned the World Champion Franchise Team.

Jagdish Mitra, GCL board chairman, said, “Dubai has emerged as a major global sports and business destination in the last decade. Its significant role in bolstering the UAE’s digital economy and strengthening its position as a global knowledge hub is noteworthy. This makes Dubai an ideal location for hosting the inaugural edition of a tournament like the Global Chess League. We believe that our partnership with Dubai Sports Council, the official sports governing body of the Government of Dubai, is a major step forward in further strengthening our ties with the country. We look forward to hosting a successful league in Dubai and ushering in a new era for the sport.”

The league will also set the standards for technological innovations in the sport of chess as FIDE and Tech Mahindra are exploring innovative ways to promote the game through interactive technology-enabled platforms by leveraging next-generation technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, among others.

سمو الشيخ منصور بن محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم رئيس مجلس دبي الرياضي يؤكد أن اختيار الاتحاد الدولي للشطرنج لدبي لتستضيف النسخة الأولى من الدوري العالمي للشطرنج بمشاركة نخبة من نجوم العالم. شهادة دولية جديدة تؤكد مكانة دبي كمركز جذب رئيسي للبطولات العالمية الكبرى في مختلف الألعاب. pic.twitter.com/UxG9mpo604

— Dubai Sports Council (@DubaiSC) May 5, 2023