Ganges Grandmasters raise the stakes at the player draft for the inaugural edition of the Global Chess League to be held in Dubai. Courtesy Tech Mahindra
The first Global Chess League player draft saw women’s top-ranked Grandmaster Hou Yifan become the star pick in a pool of 36 after the bidding process in Mumbai. The highly anticipated six-team tournament is scheduled to take place from June 21 to July 2 at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club, in association with the Dubai Sports Council.
A day after the owners of the six franchises were announced, the cream of world’s chess players – Yifan, Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Ding Liren and others – were picked from a purse of 1,000 points for each team. A joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, the GCL has captured the attention of chess enthusiasts worldwide, and where each team have players across four categories: Icon, Superstars Men, Superstars Women, and Prodigy. The Icon players were selected based on a preferential draft system.
Magnus Carlsen, the five-time World Chess Champion and the top-ranked player in the world was selected by SG Alpine Warriors. A five-time World Chess Champion, Viswanathan Anand, joined the Ganges Grandmasters. The current World Champion, Ding Liren was drafted by Triveni Continental Kings. Other notable selections included Grandmaster Jan-Krzysztof Duda by Chingari Gulf Titans and Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi by Balan Alaskan Knights. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave joined upGrad Mumba Masters as their Icon player.
Yifan attracted the highest points’ bid across men and women categories when Ganges Grandmasters picked her for 470 points. “I am looking forward to being on the same team as Viswanathan Anand and also to have the likes of Richárd Rapport, Leinier Domínguez, Bella Khotenashvili, and Andrey Esipenko on our team,” she said.
upGrad Mumba Masters picked up the Indian pair of Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli at 360 and 330 points, respectively. Praggnanandhaa R became the highest-bid player among the U21 Prodigy category, won by SG Alpine Warriors at 290 points. Andrey Esipenko went to Ganges Grandmasters in a lucky draw after receiving an equal point bid by Triveni Continental Kings, who got Jonas Buhl Bjerre eventually.
“From being on opposite sides of the table with most players to being on the same team, I am excited to meet my teammates and see how we can make the most of this experience and apply it to future competitions,” said Praggnanandhaa.
To ensure the smooth progress of the tournament, there are 3 chess players who have been chosen as reserve players who will be assigned to the particular team in case, due to any unforeseen circumstances, the current squad member/s cannot participate.
The six teams will engage in a double round-robin format, playing a total of 10 matches. The matches will be decided using a best-of-six board scoring system, played simultaneously, adding an extra layer of excitement to the tournament. The top two teams will advance to the final on July 2, where the coveted title of World Champion Franchise Team will be awarded.
TEAMS
(Icon, Superstar Men (2), Superstar Women (2), Prodigy):
As Ramadan evenings get busier, Dubai Police are warning parents about a rise in teenagers riding motorcycles and recreational bikes in residential areas, especially after Iftar.
Why this matters
Police say many teens are:
Riding without proper safety measures
Using service roads and neighbourhood streets
Putting themselves at risk of collisions with cars or pedestrians
Residential areas are often filled with families, children and elderly residents during Ramadan nights, making the danger even greater.
What parents should know
Authorities have already:
Impounded motorcycles
Summoned parents
Filed official police reports
This behaviour is considered a legal violation and can have serious consequences.
What you can do
Talk to your children about road safety and legal responsibilities
Ensure any bike use follows UAE traffic laws
Supervise younger teens, especially during busy evening hours
Residents can report unsafe riding via the 901 hotline (‘We Are All Police’ service) or through the Dubai Police app.
A quick conversation at home today could prevent a serious accident tomorrow.
A new Ramadan television series is bringing communities together across the GCC, not through debate or drama, but through the shared experience of Iftar.
Haier presents Foodilicious, produced by Rigel Global Media, which premiered in February and airs every Saturday at 7:30pm (GST) on Zee TV, with streaming available on demand.
The English-language lifestyle series blends Iftar traditions, chef-led dining, hospitality features and cultural storytelling, reflecting the diversity that defines Ramadan in Dubai and across the Middle East.
More than a food show
Unlike conventional cooking programmes, Foodilicious positions food as a narrative tool.
Founder and CEO Abhishek K. Mishraa said the editorial approach mirrors news storytelling, rooted in real life, cultural context and human experience.
The show was developed alongside Creative Head Puneet Verma and storyteller Aryaman Singh, who brought a contemporary lens to Ramadan traditions to connect with younger audiences.
Their goal? To treat food as memory, devotion and belonging, not just spectacle.
Familiar face fronts the series
Hosting the show is Lokesh Dharmani, radio jockey at City 101.6 FM, whose warm, conversational style anchors the format.
Behind the scenes, Production Manager Mukesh Dubey and Line Producer Tanim Ayub lead operations, while digital strategy is managed by social media personality Altamash Iqbal.
Backed by global brand support
The series is presented by Haier Gulf Electronics LLC, signalling growing brand investment in culturally resonant Ramadan programming, a season known for some of the region’s highest TV viewership figures.
Ramadan in the UAE brings together Emiratis, expats and visitors from across the world. By showcasing Iftar tables, chefs, hospitality experiences and shared traditions, Foodilicious aims to reflect that diversity on screen.
Commuters using one of Dubai’s busiest corridors just got a major upgrade.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially opened a new 1,000-metre bridge linking Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, slashing journey times from six minutes to just one minute.
And this is only part of a much bigger transformation.
What’s the new bridge?
It spans 1,000 metres
Has two lanes
Handles up to 3,000 vehicles per hour
Connects traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Al Karama and Deira
It’s the third bridge completed under the wider World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project.
Two earlier bridges opened in February 2026, improving traffic from 2nd December Street towards Sheikh Rashid Street and Al Majlis Street.
Why this intersection matters
The World Trade Centre Roundabout is one of Dubai’s most critical traffic nodes. It connects five major roads:
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street
Sheikh Rashid Street
2nd December Street
Zabeel Palace Street
Al Majlis Street
It also serves key destinations like:
Dubai World Trade Centre
Dubai International Financial Centre
More than half a million residents and visitors rely on this corridor daily.
From 12 Minutes to 90 Seconds
When the full five-bridge project is completed:
Average delays will drop from 12 minutes to 90 seconds
That’s a 92% reduction
Free-flow traffic will operate in multiple directions
The existing roundabout will become a signalised junction
Two additional bridges, connecting traffic from Sheikh Rashid Street and Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street, are set to open in October.
Who benefits most?
Daily commuters heading to Deira and Karama
Residents in Zabeel, Al Satwa, Al Jafiliya and Al Mankhool
Businesses in DIFC
Event attendees at Dubai World Trade Centre
For drivers, the impact is immediate. For central Dubai’s traffic grid, the biggest gains are still coming later this year.
If you drive this stretch daily, you’ll likely feel the difference from your very next commute.