Global Chess League Season 3: Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi team up, debutant Wesley So ignites bidding war

Mumbai’s chess scene just got a massive boost as the Global Chess League kicked off its third season with a thrilling player draft. On Friday, top Indian talents Dommaraju Gukesh, the current world champion, and Arjun Erigaisi teamed up as dream teammates for the PBG Alaskan Knights. This powerhouse duo highlights India’s rising dominance in the chess world.

The draft turned into a high-stakes showdown, with six teams battling for the best players. Debuting American grandmaster Wesley So sparked a fierce bidding war before landing with the upGrad Mumba Masters. Other squads also made waves: the five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand stayed loyal to the Ganges Grandmasters, while the Alpine SG Pipers snagged Fabiano Caruana in the Icon Round.

This marks the GCL’s exciting return to India, the birthplace of chess and a hotbed for new champions. After successful runs in Dubai in 2023 and London in 2024, Season 3 heads to Mumbai’s historic Royal Opera House from December 13 to 24, 2025. It’s set to draw fans from around the globe to this franchise-based chess league.

Peeyush Dubey, chairperson of the Global Chess League, couldn’t hide his excitement. "Bringing the GCL to India shows how far the sport has come," he said. "India isn’t just chess’s origin—it’s the biggest growth market, churning out stars and inspiring millions. We’re keeping it global, too, uniting players and fans everywhere. Get ready for an epic Season 3!"

Drama unfolded in every round. The Mumba Masters fought off rivals like the American Gambits and PBG Alaskan Knights to secure Wesley So. Suhail Chandhok, the team’s CEO, beamed about it: "We kept our core with Harika Dronavalli, Koneru Humpy, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. But grabbing Wesley as our top male superstar? That ticked the final box."

The real fireworks came during the battle for Arjun Erigaisi, with three teams duking it out. The PBG Alaskan Knights won the day, pairing him with Gukesh for what coach Abhijit Kunte called "India’s perfect duo." Kunte added, "We’re thrilled with our balanced squad. With the event in India, Gukesh and Arjun will light up the board and thrill the home crowd."

Before the draft, teams locked in key retainers. The Alpine SG Pipers held onto former women’s world champion Hou Yifan and R. Praggnanandhaa. American Gambits added Hikaru Nakamura and Bibisara Assaubayeva. Defending champs Triveni Continental Kings kept Alireza Firouzja, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Wei Yi. And Mumba Masters stuck with their Indian stars Humpy and Harika, plus Vachier-Lagrave.

The Superstar Women round saw Triveni Continental Kings win a bidding frenzy for Chinese GM Zhu Jiner. PBG Alaskan Knights boosted their lineup with Kateryna Lagno, while Ganges Grandmasters added 20-year-old German Vincent Keymer.

Coaches shared their game plans post-draft. American Gambits’ head coach Shrinath Narayanan said, "Drafts are like chess on steroids—full of twists. We’re stoked the tournament’s in India, the chess hotspot right now." Triveni Continental Kings’ CEO Akash Premsen focused on team vibe: "We built a squad with killer instinct and great chemistry. Psychology matters in chess, and this group clicks."

In the Prodigies Round, Ganges grabbed Raunak Sadhwani, American Gambits picked Volodar Murzin, PBG signed Daniel Dardha, and Alpine got Leon Mendonca. Alpine’s coach Pravin Thipsay praised his picks: "We went for balance and consistency—Caruana’s a beast, Pragg’s on fire, and Hou Yifan’s the top women’s player." Ganges’ Vishnu Prasad went young: "We nailed a fresh team, minus Vishy Anand. Every player counts in this team format."

The league features six teams in a double-round-robin setup over 12 days, with matches decided by a best-of-six board system. A new twist for 2025: the GCL Contenders tournament, where winners from six time zones earn spots in the draft and a shot to play with grandmasters.

Here’s how the squads shook out for GCL Season 3:

• American Gambits: Hikaru Nakamura, Richard Rapport, Vladislav Artemiev, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Teodora Injac, Volodar Murzin

• Alpine SG Pipers: Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa R, Anish Giri, Hou Yifan, Nino Batsiashvili, Leon Mendonca

• Ganges Grandmasters: Viswanathan Anand, Javokhir Sindarov, Vincent Keymer, Stavroula Tsolakidou, Polina Shuvalova, Raunak Sadhwani

• upGrad Mumba Masters: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Wesley So, Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Bardiya Daneshvar

• PBG Alaskan Knights: Gukesh D, Arjun Erigaisi, Leinier Dominguez, Sara Khadem, Kateryna Lagno, Daniel Dardha

• Triveni Continental Kings: Alireza Firouzja, Wei Yi, Vidit Gujrathi, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Zhu Jiner, Marc’Andria Maurizzi

Chess fans, mark your calendars—this Mumbai showdown promises edge-of-your-seat action in the world of professional chess.

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