upGrad Mumba Masters Lead Global Chess League After Two Victories

Mumba Masters Dominate Early in the Global Chess League

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 15: The upGrad Mumba Masters, under the leadership of Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, have taken the top spot in the Global Chess League (GCL) following two consecutive victories. On Monday, they triumphed over the Fyers American Gambits with a score of 9-7. Meanwhile, the Ganges Grandmasters achieved their first win of Season 3 by overcoming the Alpine SG Pipers 13-7, as reported in a press release.

The second matchday commenced at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai, where the upGrad Mumba Masters narrowly defeated the Fyers American Gambits in a closely fought contest. The Masters displayed remarkable resilience, with Wesley So managing to draw against Vladislav Artemiev, and Koneru Humpy also securing a draw, keeping the score tied at 2-2. The turning point came when Shakhriyar Mamedyarov outperformed Richard Rapport on board three, establishing a commanding position and giving the Masters a 5-2 advantage.

The match took a decisive turn when Bardiya Daneshvar surprised reigning World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin, clinching the victory for the Masters. Although Teodora Injac drew with Harika Dronavalli and Hikaru Nakamura responded with a solid win over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave using the Petrov Defence, the Masters ultimately secured a 9-7 win. Mamedyarov was honored as the Player of the Match, expressing his excitement, "It was an amazing game, with sacrifices. A very good win for the team, and I hope to continue playing like this. Winning even one match feels great, so to win two in a row makes it very special."

In the later match, the Alpine SG Pipers and Ganges Grandmasters were both eager for their first victory, highlighted by a marquee clash between Fabiano Caruana and Viswanathan Anand. Caruana rose to the occasion, securing a crucial win and putting the Pipers ahead 3-0. The atmosphere was electric as Anish Giri fought hard but settled for a draw against Vincent Keymer. Meanwhile, GM Daniil Dubov captivated fans with a simultaneous exhibition.

The match took a dramatic turn shortly after. Nino Batsiashvili contributed to the Pipers' score by defeating Stavroula Tsolakidou, marking her second win of the season. However, the Grandmasters responded strongly, with Raunak Sadhwani, Javokhir Sindarov, and Polina Shuvalova achieving vital victories. Shuvalova concluded the comeback by checkmating Hou Yifan, leading Ganges to a stunning 13-7 victory. Raunak, who redeemed himself after a blunder in Matchday 1, was named Player of the Match and stated, "I was confident today. I played faster, put pressure on the board and the clock. I’m very happy the team won, that’s what matters in the end."

The final match of the day featured the PBG Alaskan Knights against the defending champions, Triveni Continental Kings.

Matchday 3 will see the Ganges Grandmasters face off against the PBG Alaskan Knights, while the Triveni Continental Kings will compete against the Fyers American Gambits, and the upGrad Mumba Masters will take on the Alpine SG Pipers.