Global Chess League Season 4: Exciting Player Draft Set for Mumbai
Global Chess League Returns for Season 4
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] - The Global Chess League (GCL), a collaboration between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, is gearing up for its fourth season, with the Player Draft scheduled for June 29 in Mumbai. The league will take place in Bengaluru from September 3 to 13.
This upcoming draft marks the return of Magnus Carlsen, who has been absent for a season, while reigning FIDE Women’s World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh will make her debut in the Global Chess League.
The player pool for Season 4 includes 36 Grandmasters from various generations, featuring World Champions, World Cup winners, and Olympiad medallists. Franchises will have the opportunity to create balanced six-player teams from a mix of retained players and newcomers.
Since its inception, the Global Chess League has transformed elite chess with its franchise-based mixed-team format and tech-driven fan engagement. Season 3, hosted in India for the first time, set new standards with AI-enhanced in-arena experiences and improved broadcasting. The season concluded with the Alpine SG Pipers taking home the championship title.
Peeyush Dubey, Chairperson of the Global Chess League, expressed excitement about the upcoming season, stating, “The GCL has shown how a franchise model can unite top players and attract new chess fans. Season 4 promises an exceptional player pool that showcases the league's appeal. We are thrilled to host the league in Bengaluru, a city rich in sports and chess culture, and anticipate competitive squads from the six franchises.”
The draft will see teams form six-player squads across four categories: one Icon, two Superstar Men, two Superstar Women, and one Prodigy, all competing in the league’s six-board rapid format.
Notable names in the draft include five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, 2025 FIDE World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov, Women’s World Rapid Champion Koneru Humpy, and former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. They will be joined by rising talents like reigning World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin and Indian Grandmaster Leon Luke Mendonca.
Gourav Rakshit, Commissioner of the Global Chess League, remarked, “The Season 4 draft is crucial for franchises to build their teams. The GCL’s unique format values every category equally, making team composition as vital as individual skill. With a player pool of World Champions and emerging talents, the draft will determine the competitiveness of each team for the upcoming season.”
With the player pool finalized and the retention phase concluded, all eyes are on the Season 4 Player Draft in Mumbai on July 29. The league’s six franchises—upGrad Mumba Masters, Fyers American Gambits, Ganges Grandmasters, Triveni Continental Kings, PBG Alaskan Knights, and Alpine APL Pipers—will finalize their teams for the Bengaluru event, culminating in the championship match on September 13.