Alpine SG Pipers Triumph Over Triveni Continental Kings in Global Chess League Final
Alpine SG Pipers Crowned Champions
New Delhi, December 23: In a stunning upset, the Alpine SG Pipers defeated the two-time champions, Triveni Continental Kings, to claim victory in the third edition of the Global Chess League (GCL), a collaborative effort by Tech Mahindra and FIDE, on Tuesday.
The Pipers secured their spot in the finals by narrowly edging out Ganges Grandmasters, winning by a single game point. In the championship match, they showcased their dominance, winning the first rapid game 4-2 with black pieces, followed by a decisive 4.5-1.5 victory with white pieces. The PBG Alaskan Knights secured third place after overcoming Ganges Grandmasters in a tie-break.
The final day of the Global Chess League was filled with excitement, living up to the pre-match anticipation. Although Triveni Continental Kings were favored to win, the Pipers, who had gained momentum in the latter part of the league, capitalized on their form. Nino Batsiashvili and Leon Luke Mendonca, key players for the Pipers, delivered crucial wins in their respective matches.
Nino triumphed over Alexandra Kosteniuk in a bishop-knight endgame, while Mendonca forced Marc’Andria Maurizzi to resign after 52 moves. Despite Alireza Firouzja's victory over Fabiano Caruana on the icon board, Anish Giri's win against Wei Yi ensured the Pipers took the first match 4-2.
Facing a challenging task, the Continental Kings needed to score four points with black pieces to remain competitive. R Praggnanandhaa gave the Pipers an early lead by defeating Vidit Gujrathi and later secured another win against Wei Yi, solidifying their victory.
“Yesterday was a mix of emotions for me as I had a tough match, but the team made it to the final. Today, however, I feel great,” said Giri, who was named Player of the Match for his two victories.
On the icon board, Caruana managed to score against Alireza, who ran out of time. Firouzja, who had previously defeated all his opponents in the first five matches, was honored as the Male Player of the Tournament, while Hou Yifan played a pivotal role in the Pipers' success with three wins in the crucial matches of the league.
“It feels amazing. In the past two editions, we were close to reaching the final. This time, we barely made it, but everyone performed at their best in the final, which is a fantastic feeling,” remarked Praggnanandhaa after their championship win.
Earlier, world champion D Gukesh finally managed to defeat the legendary Viswanathan Anand when it mattered most, helping PBG Alaskan Knights secure third place. The playoff was intense, with Ganges Grandmasters initially taking a 4-2 lead in the first rapid match. However, the Alaskan Knights rallied back to force a blitz tie-break.
Anand outperformed Gukesh in the first game of the playoff and drew the second, seemingly gaining the upper hand. Meanwhile, Gukesh's teammate Arjun Erigaisi excelled against Vicent Keymer, ensuring the match remained competitive.
The Alaskan Knights capitalized on their momentum, winning the first blitz tie-break 3.5-2.5, with Arjun, Kateryna Lagno, and Sara Khadem each scoring a full point. Under pressure, Ganges Grandmasters went all out in the second tie-break, but the Alaskan Knights seized their opportunity.
With the match poised for a conclusion, the Alaskan Knights led 3-2, hinging on the outcome of the game between Anand and Gukesh. Ultimately, Gukesh triumphed, capitalizing on Anand's minor errors to secure victory in 49 moves and clinch the third-place trophy for his team.