Sports

Masters and Grandmasters take opening wins at Global Chess League

Published

1 year ago

June 23, 2023

upGrad Mumbai Masters pose a happy picture after winning against Triveni Continental Kings. Tech Mahindra

UpGrad Mumba Masters and Ganges Grandmasters came out winners from the two matches on the opening day of the inaugural Tech Mahindra Global Chess League in Dubai. The day’s proceedings at Le Meridien hotel marked a historic chapter as the league aims to revolutionise the game of chess with the winning move.

The first teams to face each other were the Triveni Continental Kings, with white, against upGrad Mumba Masters. Kings won the toss to start with the white advantage. Led by Levon Aronian – a last-minute replacement for world champion Ding Liren – the Triveni Continental Kings played a steady match. Despite the initiative of the first move, the Kings failed to capitalise on their advantage.

In a slightly better position and with more time, Aronian made “a big blunder” and allowed Vachier-Lagrave to equalise and bring the game to a draw. The team faced another setback when Chinese Grandmaster Yu Yangyi suffered a defeat at the hands of Russian heavyweight Alexander Grischuk, giving Masters an important advantage as a victory with black pieces counts as four points. Despite Yu’s compatriot Wie Yi scoring a victory against India’s Vidit Gujrathi and earning three points, the Kings were still a point short.

Unfortunately for them, all three other games ended in a draw. This meant that the final score saw Masters secure eight points while the Kings ended on seven thus losing the match. Apart from the eight points achieved in their games, the winning team is awarded another three points for winning the match.

“This event is unusual for us as we are in a team with players we know well, but with whom we have never actually been playing as team members, and, also, this event features a completely new concept,” both Levon and Maxime noted.

“I feel a lot of responsibility. You are familiar with these players but usually as opponents, not as members of the same team. Also, as the leading player in the team I feel I have to motivate others”, said Aronian.

Vachier-Lagrave said: “In our team Sasha Grischuk [one of the most experienced top players in the Global Chess League] made us all feel inspired. He showed us motivation and that is what is needed when in a new surrounding, playing a new event”, said Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

A perfect story arc – How it all started 💙 #Dreamcometrue. #Globalchessleague #gcllive @GCLlive pic.twitter.com/GFU2fKQciM

— Ikaist (@TheIkaist) June 20, 2023

Grandmasters grab bonus win

The Ganges Grandmasters made the most of their toss win with seasoned players, such as five-times world champion Vishwanathan Anand and former women’s world champion Hou Yifan.

Anand defeated Jan-Krzysztof Duda, the former winner of the World Cup. Yifan was the second to score, defeating another former women’s world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in a thrilling game. Those two victories were the only decisive games of the match as the other four ended in a draw. The Grandmasters took 10 points, while the Titans ended on four.

Anand was clearly happy after the match and excited about the prospects of the Global Chess League. “My team started well and that’s great. We are in unchartered waters here. This is a new vibe for chess. We all came here curious to see what will happen and how this will play out and so far it is proving to be exciting and promises a lot.”

Wide audience

Viewers from across the world tuned in to a broadcast to follow the games live on TV. In a first for chess – the game was broadcast live to sports networks on both sides of the Atlantic, from America to Australia.

For the first time ever, chess is employing a well-established football practice of flipping the coin to choose the side. The flip of a coin was used to decide the colour of the pieces. In another novelty, the entire team was playing with the same colour of pieces, unlike in standard formats where both teams have an equal number of black and white boards. In the circumstances, the side playing with white pieces has the initial advantage of the first move.

Kuumar Kavita Shyam

Journalist for 25 years with leading publications in India and UAE such as The National, Mumbai Mirror, DNA, Indian Express and former Sports Editor of eIndia.com. Now managing editor of Headline.ae, part of MEMc (https://www.memc.co)

Announcements

Zim Afro T10 Season 2: Munro’s Durban Wolves Face Lynn’s Jo’burg Tigers in Opening Match

Published

1 day ago

September 12, 2024

Staff Reporter

Preparations for the second season of Zim Afro T10 are well and truly on. The franchises have got their squads in place and the Harare Sports Club is all set for the tournament which begins on September 21 and will finish with the grand finale on 29 September.

Season 2 of the Zim Afro T10 will see the teams battle it out over the course of 9 days for the top prize. Each day will comprise three games, with the first scheduled for 3pm local time and 630pm IST. The second game of the day will be at 515pm local time and 845pm IST, while the third game of the day will see the players take the field at 730pm local time and 11pm IST.

A glittering opening ceremony is also scheduled for the opening day, and that is set to commence from 1pm local time. On September 29, after the final, which is scheduled to begin at 530pm local time, there will be a grand closing ceremony to round off the tournament.

The opening game of the tournament will see the Durban Wolves take on the Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers, after which, Cape Town Samp Army and the Harare Bolts will take centre stage. The final game for the day will pit the two remaining franchises, Bulawayo Brave Jaguars and the NYS Lagos.

The second match-day will see the Durban Wolves take on the Harare Bolts in the first game, after which NYS Lagos and Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers will play the second game. The final game of the day will pit the Bulawayo Brave Jaguars against Cape Town Samp Army.
Day 3 will kick off with Harare Bolts playing Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers, followed by the Bulawayo Brave Jaguars taking on Durban Wolves. The final game of the day will see Cape Town Samp Army play NYS Lagos.

NYS Lagos and Durban Wolves will commence the fourth day’s activities, with Harare Bolts and Bulawayo Brave Jaguars taking over the baton after that, and finally handing it over to Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers and Cape Town Samp Army for the final game of the day on the fourth day.

The Harare Bolts and the NYS Lagos will commence Day 5, before Durban Wolves and Cape Town Samp Army play the second game of the day. The final game of the day will see Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers play the Bulawayo Brave Jaguars.

The penultimate day of the league stage will kick off with Durban Wolves playing the Harare Bolts first, and then Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers take on Bulawayo Brave Jaguars, before Cape Town Samp Army and NYS Lagos play the third game of the day.

The final day of the league phase will see Bulawayo Brave Jaguars play Cape Town Samp Army first, and then NYS Lagos takes on Durban Wolves. The final league stage game will be between Harare Bolts and the Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers.

A total of 21 games will be played in the league stage for the Zim Afro T10, and after that the knockout phase will commence. The top 2 teams will square off in Qualifier 1, with the winner going through to the final. The third and fourth placed teams will then play the Eliminator, where the winner goes through to Qualifier 2, to face the runner-up of Qualifier 1. The team that wins Qualifier 2 will eventually play the winner of Qualifier 1 in the final.

Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, T Ten Global Sports Founder and Chairman, said, “Season 2 of the Zim Afro T10 is definitely going to be bigger and better. The players and teams are all preparing very hard for the tournament, and it promises to be nothing less than a celebration of the sport. Each day has the potential for some great contests, and we hope the fans will also enjoy watching their favourite players go head-to-head.”

Announcements

UAE to host region’s first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

Published

2 days ago

September 12, 2024

Staff Reporter

The UAE will host the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, the first global women’s cricket event to be held in the region.

Organised in partnership with Emirates Cricket Board’s (ECB) and Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the 18-day event will take place in the emirates of Dubai and Sharjah from 3rd to 20th October 2024.

Details of the tournament was announced during a press conference held today at the Dubai Sports Council in the presence of ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice, ECB Board Member Zaid Abbas and Khaled Al Awar, Director of Communications and Marketing at Dubai Sports Council.

“One of the exciting things about the UAE is its diversity. It’s a place where the entire world is represented! This means that this is effectively a home World Cup for all 10 teams and players can enjoy the support of passionate fans. With that in mind, I’m delighted to announce today that tickets will be available from just AED5 and under 18s will go free,” Allardice said.

“The Emirates Cricket Board is delighted to stage the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. The Emirates Cricket Board has rich experience and the proven pedigree of hosting top-class cricket, and we are once again ready to deliver another world-class event,” Abbas said.

10 teams from different continents of the world are competing in 23 matches in the tournament: Australia, Scotland, New Zealand, England, South Africa, India, Pakistan, the West Indies, and Bangladesh.

“The tournament will see the best women cricketers from around the world compete for the biggest prize in the T20 format. We are set to witness thrilling contests and brilliant individual and team performances in Dubai and Sharjah during the course of the event.

“The ECB would work closely with all stakeholders including the International Cricket Council and the Bangladesh Cricket Board to ensure that the participants and fans have a memorable time during their stay in the country.”

The 10-team tournament will see a champion team emerge after 23 matches spread across the 18 days.

The 20 league matches will be split between Dubai and Sharjah with the semifinals slated for 17th October in Dubai and 18th October in Sharjah. The final will be played in Dubai.

Group A includes six-time champions Australia, along with India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, while Group B comprises Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, and Scotland.

Announcements

“Global Chess League provides a unique opportunity to bond with new minds,” says World No.4 Arjun Erigaisi

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2024

Staff Reporter

Arjun Erigaisi, the 21-year-old chess prodigy from Warangal, has been creating waves this year with a career-best ranking. He ascended to World No.4 in the FIDE world ratings in June this year after beating France’s Loic Travadon in the French Team Chess Championship 2024.

With the Chess Olympiad starting in Budapest this month and the much-awaited Tech Mahindra Global Chess League starting in London on 3rd October, Arjun exuded confidence and excitement as he prepares for a busy chess season.

“Starting with the Olympiad, I have a long trip coming up, so I am not preparing specifically for any of these events, but I am going about the general preparation that I usually do,” expressed a modest Arjun, who will turn up as the Superstar men player for Ganges Grandmasters in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League Season 2. The franchise owned by Insurekot Sports will feature legendary Vishwanathan Anand as Icon player, Arjun and Parham Maghsoodloo as Superstar men players, Vaishali R and Nurgyul Salimova as Superstar women players, while Volodar Murzin is part of the team as the Prodigy player.

“Last year, I was on the same team as Magnus Carlsen, and now I am on the same team as Vishy Anand, sir. I remember following the 2013 World Championship Match as a fan, and after 10-11 years, I got the chance to be in the same teams as them. It’s a big delight,” said Arjun. Speaking about his experience from the inaugural season of the Global Chess League held in Dubai, Arjun said, “Season one was a thriller for me. I am very excited and motivated for the second season and hope to perform well this time.”

He further drew parallels with the Indian Premier League and how it helped take franchise-based cricket to a global audience and changed the sport’s landscape. “It’s definitely a great thing that we now have Global Chess League in the chess circuit. I really hope it makes a big impact in the chess world like IPL did to cricket.”

“There are a limited number of team chess tournaments, but I love it whenever I get a chance to participate in a team event. This is a bit different from other team events like the Olympiad or World Teams because you wouldn’t know most of your teammates in person, so it presents a unique opportunity to bond with new minds,” he added.

With the Global Chess League being held in London this time, there is a lot of excitement among the chess fraternity. Arjun’s prospects of playing in London are all the more exciting as he has never been to Britain’s capital. “It will be my first visit to London. Hopefully, I will find the time to visit the London Eye, and on the board, I look forward to getting some nice wins. As a team, the goal is to win it all, and my aim is to be at my absolute best during the event,” he signed off.