The Global Chess League (GCL) is set to return for its fourth season with the much-anticipated season four player selection to be held in Mumbai on June 29. The league will once again bring together some of the biggest names in world chess before the tournament kicks off in Bengaluru from September 3-13. One of the biggest highlights of the upcoming season is the return of the world number 1 Magnus Carlsenwho missed the previous edition. Another major talking point is the debut of reigning FIDE Women’s World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh, who will be making her first appearance at a franchise-based tournament.
When and where will the 4th season of the Global Chess League take place?
The Global Chess League Season 4 Player Draft will be held in Mumbai on June 29, while the main tournament will be held in Bengaluru from September 3 to 13. The season will end with a decisive final on September 13.
How does the Global Chess League draft work?
The six participating franchises will assemble teams of six players through the player draft. Each team must select players in four categories:
- One player icon
- Two superstar men
- Two female superstars
- One Prodigy
The league follows a unique fast-paced format with six boards, where each board has equal importance, creating a balanced and competitive team structure.
Which players are available in the season 4 draft?
The player pool for Season 4 includes 36 Grandmasters from around the world, including World Champions, World Cup winners, Olympic medalists and rising stars.Among the biggest names available in the draft are:
- Magnus Carlsen
- Viswanathan Anand
- Javokhir Sindarov
- Conner Humpy
- Aleksandra Kosteniuk
- Ian Nepomniachtchi
- Levon Aronian
- Volodar Murzin
- Leon Luke Mendonca
- Divya Deshmukh
Which teams will participate in the 4th season of the Global Chess League?
The six franchises competing in Season 4 are:
- UpGrad Mumba Masters
- Fyer’s American Gambits
- The great masters of the Ganges
- Triven continental kings
- PBG Alaskan Knights
- Alpine SG Pipers
SG Pipers won the GCL season 3 title (GCL photo)
The defending champions, Alpine SG Pipers, bounce back after winning the last edition with a dominant performance in the final.Since its launch, the Global Chess League has introduced a franchise-based mixed team format to elite chess.With the return of Magnus Carlsen, the debut of Divya Deshmukh and several world-class players available for the draft, the Season 4 player selection in Mumbai promises to set the stage for another exciting edition of the Global Chess League.
