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Masters and Grandmasters take opening wins at Global Chess League

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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.

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.

 

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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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