Checkmate! All about the Global Chess League in Dubai
The inaugural edition of the Global Chess League is set to be held in Dubai starting from the 21st of June. Fans across the globe will follow the event as it features some of the top chess players, including Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Ding Liren and Hou Yifan. Read on to find out more about the inaugural league.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE GLOBAL CHESS LEAGUE SO FAR!
The Global Chess League’s inaugural edition will likely attract many international audiences, especially since top players from as many as 14 countries will compete for the grand prize of USD 1 million.
Global Chess League dates are from the 21st of June to the 2nd of July 2023. All the teams will compete in a unique joint team format, each with six members, including at least two women players.
Six teams will be involved in the battle of brains in the double round-robin. 10 matches will be played in a quick format of two and a half hours maximum and the winner be determined using a best-of-six board scoring system. Remember that only the top two teams will qualify for the finals and compete for the World Champion Franchise Team title.
What’s exciting is that the matches will be televised live. It is claimed that this would be the first-ever live televised chess event so that fans could experience the game like never before.
Also, this league will be the world’s first franchise-based chess tournament. FIDE, the game’s world governing body, Dubai Sports Council and Indian IT services giant Tech Mahindra are collaborating to organise this event.
PARTICIPATING PLAYERS AT THE GLOBAL CHESS LEAGUE DUBAI
As mentioned earlier, the top chess players will compete for the league title. New World Champion GM Ding Liren will challenge the world’s number-one GM Magnus Carlsen. World’s top-ranked female player, GM Hou Yifan and India’s five-time World Champion, GM Viswanathan Anand, will grace the event.
Other big-name Indian players such as Gukesh D, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, Raunak Sadhwani, Humpy Koneru, and Harika Dronavalli will also be part of the upcoming event.
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
Jagdish Mitra, Board Chairperson, 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.”
FAQS
WHAT ARE THE GLOBAL CHESS LEAGUE DATES?
The league will start from the 21st of June and continue till the 2nd of July 2023.
WHAT IS THE GLOBAL CHESS LEAGUE LOCATION?
The league is being held at the Dubai Chess & Culture Club.
Tech Mahindra Global Chess League will undoubtedly raise the profile of the game in Dubai. The organisers will explore new ways to promote chess with the help of AI, virtual reality and other technology-enabled platforms. So, gear up to watch some absorbing contests.
Which player are you rooting for? Let us know in the comments section.
