Mumbai, Sept 24 (UNI) India’s chess superstars – reigning World Champion D Gukesh, five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, and prodigy R Praggnanandhaa – will lead the spotlight at the Global Chess League (GCL) Season 3 player draft in Mumbai on September 26.
The third edition of the league, a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, will see six franchises competing to build powerhouse teams from a 36-player pool, featuring elite Grandmasters and rising talents from 17 countries.
Other marquee names include world icons Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, four-time Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan, and World Cup runner-up Koneru Humpy.
The U-21 Prodigy category will showcase rising stars Volodar Murzin, 2024 FIDE World Rapid Champion, and Marc’Andria Maurizzi, 2023 World Junior Champion.
Peeyush Dubey, Chairperson of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, said, “The GCL Season 3 draft marks another exciting milestone as we bring together exceptional talent from across the globe. This season promises bigger battles, mega moves, and a new wave of chess innovation. With every season, we’re not just building teams – we’re elevating the future of chess and inspiring a new generation of players and enthusiasts.”
The draft will consist of four rounds, with players divided into Icon, Men’s, Women’s, and U-21 Prodigy categories. Each of the six franchises – defending champions Triveni Continental Kings, PBG Alaskan Knights, UpGrad Mumba Masters, Ganges Grandmasters, Alpine SG Pipers, and American Gambits – will field a six-player roster: one Icon, two men, two women, and one U-21 Prodigy.
Viswanathan Anand said, “GCL is more than a tournament – it’s a celebration of intelligence, teamwork, and creativity. It combines tradition with innovation and creates a platform worthy of the game’s global stature. I’m proud to see such a league emerging from India onto the world stage.”
The Global Chess League, the world’s only official gender-inclusive chess league under a global sports federation, has previously captivated audiences in Dubai and London. Its debut season in India, the birthplace of chess, promises a fan-first experience blending classical chess pedigree with fast-paced, televised match formats.
Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa headline GCL Season 3 draft
