Global Chess League Day 8: PBG reach finals as Triveni and Pipers set for showdown
With 21 match points and 100 game points, PBG Alaskan Knights secured the top spot in the League, clinching a place in the finals. They defeated the defending champions, Triveni Continental Kings, who will now battle Sg Pipers for the second spot in the finals. It was a dramatic day at Friends House in London as teams fought in the penultimate round for a place in the finals. While much was undecided, three teams were already out of contention: upGrad Mumba Masters (last year’s runners-up), Ganges Grandmasters (third in season one), and American Gambits. In the opening match, the Gambits, led by world number two Hikaru Nakamura, defeated Mumba Masters 10-6. Although both teams were out of the running for the finals, this victory gave the Gambits a strong chance to win the League’s fourth-place prize. The first major match of the day saw Alpine Sg Pipers take on Ganges Grandmasters. The Pipers needed to win to edge closer to the finals. Richard Rapport defeated Parham Maghsoodloo, and Magnus Carlsen added another point with what he described as a “crazy game” against Vishy Anand. Off the board, some light drama unfolded when Kateryna Lagno asked Carlsen and Anand to quiet down during their post-game chat, prompting Carlsen to gesture “zipping” his mouth. Lagno then secured a win, followed by Hou Yifan, bringing the score to 13-1. Though Ganges’ Volodar Murzin won the final prodigy game, it was too late to change the outcome. The Pipers ended the day in second place with 18 match points, positioning them well for the finals. In the final match of the day, Triveni Continental Kings faced a difficult challenge against the tournament leaders, PBG Alaskan Knights. Despite being three match points ahead, PBG needed a win to confirm their finals spot, and they delivered. Anish Giri defeated Alireza Firouzja, while Nodirbek Abdusattorov outplayed Wei Yi. Teimour Radjabov won against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov to give Triveni some hope, but losses on the women’s boards sealed their fate. Despite Javokhir Sindarov’s win on the prodigy board, PBG won 12-8, ensuring their place in the finals. Triveni must now face Sg Pipers in a direct showdown for the remaining finals spot. Friday will be the last and decisive day as all teams play their final round before the top two move on to the finals. While PBG Alaskan Knights are already secure, all eyes will be on the clash between Triveni Continental Kings and Sg Pipers, where the winner will claim the second spot in the finals. Here follows a closer look at the games of day eight at the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: American Gambits vs upGrad Mumba Masters: MVLs blunder helps Gambits win the match The first match of the day, between upGrad Mumba Masters and American Gambits, was more about pride than results. With no pressure on the outcome, Mumba—playing as White—started strong, with their players achieving favorable positions on four of the six boards. On the icon board, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave facing Hikaru Nakamura blundered heavily in a slightly inferior position, losing a piece and eventually the game. Despite this setback, the Mumba Masters had promising positions on other boards, but more trouble soon followed. On board two, Vidit was clearly better against Duda, but, as in previous matches, got into time trouble and lost his advantage. In a blitz finish, Duda capitalized, winning on time and pushing his team to an 8-0 lead. Peter Svidler drew with Wei Yi, scoring the first point for Mumba. Unfortunately for them, on both women’s boards, Humpy Koneru and Karika Dronavalli misplayed significantly better positions, leading to draws. Mumba’s only win came on the prodigy board. Jonas Bjerre from American Gambits launched an all-out attack against Raunak Sadhwani, even sacrificing an. However, at the critical point of the game, Bjerre miscalculated avoiding queen exchange instead of trading the most powerful pieces. As a result, all his pieces became trapped, leaving him completely lost. The final score was 11-6 in favor of the American Gambits, bringing them closer to fourth place and a prize. Alpine Sg Pipers vs Ganges Grandmasters: A dominating victory for the Pipers as Carlsen and Anand told off by Lagno The match provided excitement both on and off the board. The first to strike was Sg Pipers’ Richard Rapport, who completely dismantled Parham Maghsoodloo’s position for a commanding win. After the loss, Maghsoodloo appeared stunned, sitting motionless in his chair, staring aimlessly across the venue. Meanwhile, Indian compatriots Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi drew their game, parting with smiles and laughter. But this match was no laughing matter for Sg Pipers, who needed to win. Ganges suffered another setback soon after when Vishy Anand lost to Magnus Carlsen in what the Norwegian described as “a crazy game,” where he was simultaneously pushing a pawn towards promotion and trying to checkmate Anand. With checkmate just one move away, Anand resigned. Carlsen’s victory earned him the Player of the Match award, along with a chess set presented by Stephen Lowe, Director of the British Chess Magazine—the world’s oldest chess journal. What followed was equally notable. As Anand and Carlsen casually discussed the game, while other matches were still ongoing, Magnus’ teammate Kateryna Lagno, playing against Nurgyul Salimova, turned to the former world champions and asked them to be quiet. Carlsen quickly raised his hand in apology and mimed zipping his mouth, while Anand, less affected, continued talking for a few more seconds. Both players eventually left the board to check other games before exiting the arena. By then, Sg Pipers were leading 7-1, with drama building on the remaining three boards. After silencing Carlsen and Anand, Lagno confidently finished her game, extending the Pipers’ lead to 10-1 and securing the match. Hou Yifan followed suit by defeating Vaishali, pushing the score to 13-1. The final game was on the prodigy board, where both sides traded advantages in time trouble. Ultimately, Ganges’ Volodar Murzin emerged victorious, claiming a consolation win for his team. With this decisive victory, Alpine
Shymkent welcomes second leg of FIDE WGP 2024-2025
Mark your calendars as the second leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series 2024-2025 is set to take place in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, from October 29 to November 9, 2024, with an exciting line-up of some of the strongest female chess players in the world who will face off in a 9-round round-robin tournament. From the 2024 FIDE Candidates winner Tan Zhongyi to the recent Olympiad gold medalist Divya Deshmukh, there is an excellent blend of rising talent and experienced grandmasters, with each player vying for valuable points and a chance to secure a place in the FIDE Women’s Candidates. The Shymkent leg of the Grand Prix series follows the successful first event in Tbilisi, Georgia, from August 14-25, 2024, which saw outstanding performances and thrilling games. Alina Kashlinskaya clinched first place, putting her at the top of the Grand Prix leaderboard with 130 points. Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva and Greece’s Stavroula Tsolakidou both had successful debuts in Tbilisi, both leading the tournament early on, ultimately ending second and third, respectively. They will be back for this second leg, joined by Aleksandra Goryachkina, Kateryna Lagno, Tan Zhongyi, Humpy Koneru, Elisabeth Paehtz, Nurgyul Salimova, Batkhuyag Munguntuul, and Divya Deshmukh. Players Bibisara Assaubayeva Bibisara Assaubayeva, born on February 26, 2004, is one of the brightest young talents in the world of chess. She has achieved significant milestones from a very young age and continues to impress with her skill and dedication. Assaubayeva has won multiple titles in different age categories, including the World Youth Chess Championships, establishing her as a top competitor on the youth circuit. In 2021, she made history by becoming the youngest-ever Women’s World Blitz Champion at the age of 17, a remarkable achievement in her burgeoning career. Photo: Michal Walusza She retained her title a year later, proving that her first victory was no accident. As she continues to develop her skills and gain experience, Bibisara Assaubayeva is poised to become an even more prominent figure in women’s chess. Bibisara’s participation in the second leg of the Women’s Grand Prix 2024–2025 series will provide her with further opportunities to compete against top-tier opponents and enhance her reputation on the global stage. Stavroula Tsolakidou Stavroula Tsolakidou, born on March 24, 2000, is one of the most promising young talents in the chess world and is the No. 1 ranked Greek female player. She has achieved significant milestones from a young age and continues to make her mark on the international stage. One of Tsolakidou’s significant achievements was her performance in the World Youth Chess Championships (U14, U16, U18), where she secured multiple titles, showcasing her talent and potential at a young age. Photo: Anna Shtourman Stavroula’s participation in the second leg of the Women’s Grand Prix 2024–2025 series will provide her with further opportunities to compete against top-tier opponents and make a name for herself among the global elite. Aleksandra Goryachkina Aleksandra Goryachkina, born on September 28, 1998, with a peak rating of 2611, is known for her positional and strategic mastery. Her deep understanding of chess fundamentals and ability to outmaneuver opponents in complex positions make her a formidable player. Photo: Michal Walusza A highlight of her career was winning the 2019 Women’s Candidates Tournament, which earned her the right to challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Chess Championship. Although she narrowly lost in the tie-breaks, her performance earned her widespread acclaim. Recently, she won the 2023 FIDE Women’s World Cup and continues to be a dominant force in the Women’s Grand Prix series. Kateryna Lagno Born on December 27, 1989, Kateryna Lagno, is celebrated for her dynamic and flexible chess style, with a peak rating of 2563. Achieving Grandmaster status at just 12 years and 4 months, she broke records and set new standards in women’s chess. Her career highlights include winning the European Women’s Championship twice and triumphs in the World Women’s Blitz Championship in 2010, 2018 and 2019. Photo: Michal Walusza Lagno’s consistent performance in the Women’s Grand Prix series, including winning the first leg of the 2022–23 series, showcases her versatility and strength. With a solid foundation in all phases of the game, she remains a formidable competitor in every tournament she enters. Tan Zhongyi Tan Zhongyi, born on May 29, 1991, is a former Women’s World Champion renowned for her solid and strategic playing style. Her deep opening preparation and exceptional endgame technique make her a challenging opponent. She won the Women’s World Chess Championship in 2017 after defeating Anna Muzychuk in the final. In 2024, she won the Cairns Cup, dominating a field of elite players. Photo: Michal Walusza She also won the Women’s Сandidates Tournament 2024, allowing her to compete against Ju Wenjun in the Women’s World Chess Championship 2025. Tan has a history of strong performances in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series, and with her current momentum, she is one of the favorites in the Grand Prix 2024-2025. Humpy Koneru Humpy Koneru, with a peak rating of 2623, is India’s highest-rated female player and a dominant force in women’s chess. Known for her tactical acumen and excellent positional understanding, Humpy has secured numerous titles, including the 2011 FIDE Grand Prix series and the 2019 Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship. Photo: Mark Livshitz After a brief hiatus, she returned triumphantly to win the Cairns Cup in 2020. Humpy’s consistent top-three finishes in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix series demonstrate her world-class skills and relentless pursuit of victory. Elisabeth Paehtz Elisabeth Paehtz, born on January 8, 1985, is one of Germany’s most accomplished female chess players. She has had a distinguished career marked by numerous titles and significant contributions to the game. In November 2022, at the age of 37, FIDE confirmed the Grandmaster title for Paehtz, making her the first German woman to receive this title. In a time of chess prodigies on the rise, Paehtz serves as an inspiration that anything is possible at any age. Photo: Maria Emelianova Elisabeth consistently plays and performs with the women’s elite and participated in both the 2019-2021 and 2022–2023
Global Chess League, Day 7: Mumba Masters stop PBG, Triveni and Sg Pipers close in
UpGrad Mumba Masters defeated tournament leaders PBG Alaskan Knights, denying them direct qualification to the finals. Meanwhile, Triveni Continental Kings and Alpine Sg Pipers moved closer to securing their spots at the top In a surprising turn of events at the start of the day, upGrad Mumba Masters delivered a shocking defeat to tournament leaders PBG Alaskan Knights 10-9, disrupting their path to direct qualification for the finals. The team of upGrad Mumba Masters got better positions early on, but it was the PBG Alaskan Knights who took the lead first: after a draw between Dronavalli and Kashlinskaya, Mumba’s Vidit Gujrathi lost on time against Abdusattorov and Peter Svidler fell to Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. But Maxime Vachier-Lagrave’s critical win over Anish Giri on the icon board kept Mumba in the match. It came down to the final two boards, where Mumba’s Humpy Koneru and Raunak Sadhwani converted their advantage under time pressure, sealing the upset. As Sarin resigned, the crowd at Friends House applauded Mumba’s resilience. With this victory, Mumba remain in contention for the finals, while PBG must wait for another opportunity to qualify. “It feels great. I’m glad I could help the team. We had nothing to lose, wanting to play a good match, and it worked,” Mumba’s prodigy player Raunak Sadhwani said after the match. In another duel between the leaders and those struggling at the bottom – season one winners Triveni Continental Kings were playing against Ganges Grandmasters. Triveni scored a crucial victory 12-9, tightening their grip on a spot in the finals. At the start of the match, things were looking great for Ganges: Anand came out of the opening much better in his game against Firouzja, while his teammates achieved promising positions on other boards. However, as the match progressed – things went south: Anand blundered and lost, Maghsoodloo spoiled a completely winning position against Radjabov, and Vaishali also misplayed against Kosteniuk – handing critical victories to Triveni to bag the match. With this defeat, Ganges Grandmasters, led by former World Champion Vishy Anand, are out of the race for the finals. The games continue on Thursday, 10th October, with two more rounds left before the knockout finals. Here follows a closer look at the matches on day eight of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: upGrad Mumba Masters vs PBG Alaskan Knights: PBG miss first chance to reach the finals The seventh day of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League saw PBG, playing as Black, face Mumba Masters, who had won only two out of seven matches so far. With three rounds left, PBG had the opportunity to secure their place in the finals. For Mumba, this was a must-win match to keep their finals hopes alive. The opening game between the two teams ended in a narrow 8-5 victory for PBG, with just one decisive result: PBG’s Nihal Sarin pulled off a crucial win against Raunak Sadhwani on the prodigy board. Early on in the match, Mumba gained the upper hand. Sadhwani obtained a strong position against Sarin, and Humpy Koneru was better against former Women’s World Champion, Tan Zhongyi. However, on the superstar board, Vidit Gujrathi was struggling with time against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, echoing their earlier encounter. Meanwhile, PBG’s icon player Anish Giri could only manage to equalize against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, which, considering Giri was Black, would normally be a favorable result. The first game to conclude was a draw on the women’s board, where Harika Dronavalli and Alina Kashlinskaya, both top scorers, neutralized each other. Needing to rally quickly, PBG instead found themselves in trouble. A highly unusual position developed on the icon board: despite Black having two pawn-runners on the queenside, the engine showed White had the advantage—provided Vachier-Lagrave could push his pawns. In time trouble, the Frenchman – who also holds a degree in mathematics – calculated flawlessly, seizing a decisive advantage. However, Mumba suffered a setback when Vidit lost on time, giving PBG a lead of 4-2. Still, Mumba was in control on three of the remaining four boards. Vachier-Lagrave’s victory over Giri closed the gap to 5-4. But then Mumba’s Peter Svidler fell against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in time trouble, pushing PBG ahead to 9-4. It all came down to the final two boards, where Mumba was dominating. Despite the time pressure, both Koneru and Sadhwani played precisely, securing a 10-9 victory for Mumba. Ganges Grandmasters vs Triveni Continental Kings: A great start but a terrible finish for Ganges The Ganges Grandmasters started the match confidently with the white pieces. Vishy Anand gained an early advantage over Alireza Firouzja right after the opening, while Parham Maghsoodloo and Nurgyul Salimova also secured strong positions in their games. Vaishali R joined in, getting an edge against former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. However, disaster struck when Anand hesitated in his promising position, eventually blundering and handing the lead to Triveni. Despite this setback, the Ganges team still held favorable positions on most boards. Arjun Erigaisi secured a much-needed victory on board two, defeating Wei Yi — his first win after seven consecutive draws. But then more bad news followed for Ganges: Vaishali lost a better position to Kosteniuk, and Maghsoodloo botched up a completely winning position against Teimour Radjabov on board three, ultimately giving the match to Triveni. Despite late wins from Salimova against Gunina and Murzin against Sindarov, Ganges lost the match 12-9, dashing their hopes of reaching the finals. American Gambits vs Alpine Sg Pipers: Praggnanandhaa secures crucial win for the Pipers In their previous encounter, the Pipers narrowly won 9-7 playing as White. This time, with the Gambits having the first-move advantage, they pressed hard on all boards. The Gambits got off to a good start, with Elisabeth Paehtz securing a significantly better position against Kateryna Lagno. Shortly after, teammate Bibisara Assaubayeva gained an advantage over Hou Yifan. On board three, however, the Pipers caught a break when Yu Yangyi accepted a draw from Richard Rapport, despite being in a better position—a risky decision that proved to
4th FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners: Day 1 recap
The FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners is back with its fourth edition, and this year is the largest event yet, with over 115 teams from 51 countries competing. This championship which brings together inmates from around the world over chessboards is an integral part of FIDE’s mission to demonstrate the power of chess in transforming lives, especially within correctional facilities. The Championship is part of the Chess for Freedom initiative, a joint program by FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (Chicago, USA), launched in May 2021. The inaugural event that year coincided with the International Day of Education in Prisons (October 13) and saw 32 teams from 31 countries participate. Since then, the event has grown significantly, and this year’s edition promises even more exciting competition. Day 1 saw the group stage, which comprised 10 groups in the open section, three in the women and three in the youth. Each group played in a round-robin format, with the teams paired according to time zones. Therefore, the day was split into three segments: Asia, Europe and, Africa, and the Americas. Each segment started with opening speeches by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola, and FIDE Social Commission chair and the Swiss Chess Federation President Andre Vogtlin. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich ushered in the start of the tournament and expressed his personal sentiment about the event and the Chess for Freedom Programme: “Over the years, I have heard many stories from those who have taken part in the event about how chess helped to improve their critical thinking, emotional well-being, and enhance their social skills, something which is important for their future life, helping them to find a better place in the world.” Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola shared a wonderful idiom to describe the start of the championships: “From Latvia, another autumn, another Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners is on. We here in Latvia say that autumn is the time when you reap the harvest, reap the fruits of the whole year. So I believe that this is the same with the Intercontinental Championship because all year round, I believe many already, since the last tournament finished, have been working hard, training, preparing for this very day, for this very competition, to show the best, to show the team spirit, to show the fighting abilities, to show the fair play, to show the ability to represent your institution, your country in this worldwide event. Let’s have a lot of fun, let’s have a lot of chess, let’s enjoy and let the strongest and the most motivated win.” Finally, FIDE Social Commission chair and the Swiss Chess Federation President, Andre Vogtlin, shared his sentiments all the way from the border between Switzerland and Italy at a height of 2500m! He used the open Schengen border as a metaphor for the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners “beyond countries, beyond continents.” Adding to this, he noted the exciting news of FIDE’s Social Chess Year 2025, adding: “We will have not only prisons but refugee camps, slums, clinics with addicts, with Autism Spectrum Disorder and much more social groups playing and celebrating this huge chess tool, social tool, who has unique benefits for all of us and I would like to invite you to join this event, this movement and to be in contact with my team who will also be inviting you to all these events.” The broadcast was accompanied by various videos, including a preview of this special Year of Social Chess, which can be watched on YouTube. The first day set a positive and hopeful tone, celebrating chess’s ability to change lives. The competition was fierce, with many games seeing dramatic swings, as engine evaluations fluctuated wildly until the final result was secured. While some groups were dominated by certain teams, others saw tight, unpredictable battles. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, which will be held tomorrow, September 10. Let’s take a look at the standings: Open Group 1 Open Group 2 Open Group 3 Open Group 4 Open Group 5 Open Group 6 Open Group 7 Open Group 8 Open Group 9 Open Group 10 Women’s Group 1 Women’s Group 2 Women’s Group 3 Youth Group 1 Youth Group 2 Youth Group 3 During the broadcast, the commentators spoke with David Acheampong, founder of Mentors Chess Academy in Accra, Ghana, who was live from the prison where his Youth team was competing. Acheampong shared the players’ excitement after securing their spot in the semi-finals and their determination to prepare for the next day’s matches. Last year, India took first place in the Male and Youth groups, while Mongolia claimed victory in the Female group. Both countries are well-positioned for another strong showing this year, but with the tournament’s expansion, the competition remains wide open. With teams fighting for glory and personal pride, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 4th FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners. The chessboard will decide who rises to the top, but every player has already won in their own way.
Global Chess League, Day 6: Underdogs shake up leaderboard
It was a day of upsets at the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, as the favorites stumbled in two matches, with Magnus Carlsen and Alireza Firouzja suffering shocking defeats. The team of PBG Alaskan Knights extended their dominant run with a commanding victory over the Ganges Grandmasters. With six victories in seven matches, PBG Alaskan Knights are comfortably at the top, with 18 match points – six more than Triveni and Alpine Sg Pipers, who are trying to catch up. With three more matches remaining before the knockout stage, PBG need to score just one victory to secure a place in the finals. Despite this, PBG’s top board, Anish Giri, was cautious about his team’s position: “It’s not done yet; we still need to get to the final and win. But so far, it’s going well, and I’m happy with everything, that’s for sure”. In a stunning upset earlier in the day, the upGrad Mumba Masters defeated the favored Alpine Sg Pipers. On board one, Magnus Carlsen was left reeling after a blunder in a combination that allowed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to claim victory. Visibly upset, Carlsen stormed out of the venue. The Mumba Masters capitalized on this momentum, securing a dominant 14-5 win and delivering a major blow to the Pipers’ chances of closing in on the league’s leaders. In the second match of the day, the season one winners, Triveni Continental Kings, were defeated by American Gambits 14-5. The match saw Alireza Firouzja lose the first game in the tournament – blundering in an even rook endgame against none other than world number two, Hikaru Nakamura. The day closed with PBG Alaskan Knights confidently beating Ganges Grandmasters 15-4. Playing as Black, the Alaskan Knights started with a defeat but then quickly took control of the match, winning on three boards. With just three rounds left, PBG are almost unstoppable: they are six match points ahead of everyone else and need just one victory to reach the finals. Despite today’s setback, Triveni remains in second place with 12 match points and 70 game points (nine less than PBG). No change for Alpine Sg Pipers despite them also suffering a defeat: they are in third place, with 12 match points and 57 game points. Here follows a closer look at the matches on the sixth day of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: Alpine Sg Pipers vs upGrad Mumba Masters: Magnus Carlsen and team stunned In season one, both teams were in contention for the top places. In season one, both teams were strong contenders for the top spots. While the Pipers have maintained their high-level performance in season two, the Mumba Masters have struggled. Mumba lost five matches—including a heavy 4-12 defeat to the Pipers earlier in the event—which has left them at the bottom of the standings. Alpine Sg Pipers had the initiative of the first move. The match started calmly, with a relatively quick draw on one of the women’s boards between Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru. However, the tide soon turned dramatically against the Pipers. Magnus Carlsen made a critical blunder on the icon board, losing to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Upset by his loss, Carlsen stormed out of the playing area, visibly shaken. In response, Pipers’ Praggnanandhaa launched a fierce attack against Vidit’s Black king, securing a win and keeping the Pipers in the match. On the second superstar board, Peter Svidler – who up to this point had recorded two losses and four draws – claimed his first victory of the tournament, defeating Richard Rapport with the black pieces. Things went downhill for the Sg Pipers from there: Kateryna Lagno narrowly avoided defeat as Harika Dronavalli ran out of time, resulting in a draw. To cap it off, Daniel Dardha fell to Raunak Sadhwani in a tense rook endgame. The final score was 14-5 in favor of upGrad Mumba Masters. Not only was this a remarkable comeback for Mumba, but it also prevented the Pipers from closing the gap with the top two teams, keeping the league standings wide open. Triveni Continental Kings vs American Gambits: Triveni upset as Firouzja suffers first loss In the second match of the day, Triveni Continental Kings played the American Gambits. In their first encounter, Triveni – who played as Black – crushed the American Gambits 15 – 3. However, this rematch was much more intense, with all the games going down to the wire, leading to some of the most surprising twists and turns in the tournament so far. The first shock came when Triveni’s Valentina Gunina blundered a rook in a winning position against Elisabeth Paehtz, handing the American Gambits an early lead. Then, on the icon board, Triveni’s Alireza Firouzja lost an even rook endgame to Hikaru Nakamura, completely misplaying it despite not being in time trouble. After the game, Nakamura quickly left the arena, while Firouzja—suffering his first defeat in the league—remained at the board, visibly stunned, as he put the pieces back in starting position. The setbacks continued for Triveni: on the superstar board, Wei Yi failed to capitalize on a better position against Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and both Teimour Radjabov and Yu Yangyi drew their games. The decisive blow came from Bibisara Assaubayeva, who turned a losing position around to defeat former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. The only bright spot for Triveni was Javokhir Sindarov, who notched up a win over Jonas Bjerre on the prodigy board. The final score was 14-5 in favor of the American Gambits. PBG Alaskan Knights vs Ganges Grandmasters: PBG continue strong In the final match of the day, tournament leaders PBG Alaskan Knights played the Ganges Grandmasters, who have been struggling at the bottom of the standings. Ganges, playing as White, took an early lead thanks to Parham Maghsoodloo, who bested Shakhriyar Mamedyarov on the second superstar board. However, PBG’s Anish Giri quickly leveled the score, defeating Vishy Anand with the Black pieces after Anand made a costly mistake, entering a lost endgame. Despite initially achieving a promising position,
Global Chess League, Day 5: PBG still on top despite first defeat
PBG Alaskan Knights suffered their first defeat of the league, losing to the third-placed Alpine Sg Pipers. Meanwhile, last year’s winners, Triveni Continental Kings, climbed to second place, tying with PBG in game points. Ganges Grandmasters also made strides up the table, while the American Gambits and upGrad Mumba Masters find themselves at the bottom of the standings. The three matches played today at London’s Friends House marked the beginning of the second half of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, with teams now facing each other in return matches. Defending champions, Triveni secured a 10-8 win over upgrade Mumba Masters in the opening match of the day. Triveni’s star player, Alireza Firouzja, continued his stellar performance, clinching his fifth consecutive victory in the league. Despite having one fewer match win than PBG, Triveni now have an equal number of game points. Meanwhile, upGrad Mumba Masters have fallen to the bottom of the standings, being the only team with just one match win. League leaders PBG Alaskan Knights faced their first setback in the league, after a narrow 9-7 loss to Alpine Sg Pipers. Led by Magnus Carlsen on the icon board, the Pipers secured victory thanks to excellent performances by their two women players, Kateryna Lagno and Hou Yifan, who both won their games. In the final match of the day, Ganges Grandmasters cruised to a 10-4 win over the American Gambits. Key victories by Nurgyul Salimova and Volodar Murzin sealed the win. This victory pushed Ganges up to fourth place, while the Gambits dropped to fifth. Here follows a closer look at the matches on day five of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: Triveni Kings vs Mumba Masters: A dramatic rematch as Firouzja stays undefeated The Triveni Continental Kings and upGrad Mumba Masters opened the second half of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League on day five of the event. Triveni, the reigning champions from season one, entered the match with three wins out of five, starting the day in second place. Meanwhile, the Mumba Masters—season one’s top contenders—were in a tough spot, managing only one win and four losses, leaving them just one position above last place. This second phase of the tournament marks the beginning of the rematch stage, as all teams have already faced each other once. In their first encounter, Triveni—playing with the White pieces—defeated Mumba 12–3, with decisive victories by Alireza Firouzja, Wei Yi, and Valentina Gunina. However, this time, Mumba had the advantage of making the first move. Mumba’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave was looking to avenge his yesterday’s loss to Firouzja. In a sharp, tactical game, Vachier-Lagrave made several blunders, allowing Firouzja to wrap it up with a crushing attacking combination. The game would have ended in checkmate had Vachier-Lagrave not resigned. It marked Firouzja’s fifth consecutive victory, leaving him undefeated after six rounds. Superstars Vidit Gujrathi and Wei Yi followed the same opening line as on the top board. Unlike the first game, however, Mumba came out on top after a critical mistake by Wei Yi late in the game. Alexandra Kosteniuk then extended Triveni’s lead by defeating Humpy Koneru, but Harika Dronavalli struck back against Gunina, keeping Mumba in contention. With Triveni leading 9–7, the outcome hinged on the youngsters’ board. Triveni’s Javokhir Sindarov had winning positions twice but misplayed both times, ending in desperate time trouble. Mumba’s Raunak Sadhwani wasn’t aware that his team needed a win – he could have played on but opted to repeat the moves, giving a draw to Triveni, which sealed their victory. The final score of the match was 10–8 for Triveni. “This is one of the best performances I’ve ever had, but there are still a few rounds left,” said Firouzja after the game, adding that his team was “a bit lucky to win the match.” Alpine Sg Pipers vs PBG Alaskan Knights: Revenge served as tournament leaders suffer first defeat The second match saw Magnus Carlsen’s Alpine Sg Pipers face league leaders PBG Alaskan Knights. Their previous encounter ended in a narrow victory for the Knights, 9-7. The Knights entered this rematch hoping to extend their unbeaten run, but the Sg Pipers were eager for revenge. Right from the outset, SG Pipers, playing with the White pieces, seemed to obtain more comfortable positions and were steadily pressing the tournament leaders. Carlsen sacrificed an exchange and got more than sufficient compensation, while Giri opted for a daring combination, giving up his queen but hoping to build a fortress. By this point, Giri had six minutes left on the clock, while Carlsen was down to just three. Carlsen ultimately got the upper hand but faltered under time pressure, and the game ended in a draw. The first decisive result of the match came from Alpine’s Kateryna Lagno, who scored her first victory in six games by defeating Alina Kashlinskaya. With the superstar boards ending in draws, this win was critical for the Sg Pipers. However, on board six, things weren’t going their way: Daniel Dardha was in serious trouble against PBG’s Nihal Sarin. Fortunately for the Pipers, Hou Yifan beat Tan Zhongyi, which ultimately swung the match in her team’s favor. Thanks to Pipers scoring two victories on the women’s boards, the final result mirrored their previous defeat to the Knights – 9-7 – but this time in their favor, making it a sweet revenge. Pipers moved one step closer to the top two teams in the league, while PBG Alaskan Knights got a sobering reminder that they are not the only ones in contention for first place. Ganges Grandmasters vs American Gambits: Vishy Anand’s team finally pulls through The Ganges Grandmasters entered this match at the bottom of the league standings. They had just one victory and four losses, totaling only 28 game points. The team led by Vishy Anand needed a win to avoid falling further behind in the competition. Meanwhile, the American Gambits were also under pressure, needing a win to catch up with the top three teams. In
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