Global Chess League 2024: Full List of Icon Players & Teams For Season 2; Carlsen, Anand, Nakamura Among Top Icons

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The Global Chess League, a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, has announced the list of Icon players for the second season to be held in London from October 3 to 12 at Friends House.

Sameer Pathak, CEO of the Global Chess League, expressed his excitement and extended a warm welcome to all the Icon players. The organisers believe the big names at the helm of each team, and exciting matches of the competition will offer millions of chess fans an incredible experience.

Global Chess League: The Stellar Line-Up of Icon Players

1. Magnus Carlsen - Alpine SG Pipers: The World No.1 and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen will continue to play for Alpine SG Pipers, having also featured in the first season of the Global Chess League. Carlsen shared his enthusiasm, stating, "The first season in Dubai was a fantastic experience. Chess has been an individual sport, but the concept of a team setting introduced by the Global Chess League is very exciting and refreshing. I look forward to playing again with the Alpine SG Pipers."
2. Hikaru Nakamura - American Gambits: One of the world's most popular and dynamic players, Hikaru Nakamura, will make his debut in the league with the new team American Gambits
3. Anish Giri - PBG Alaskan Knights: Grandmaster Anish Giri will also make his debut in the second season with PBG Alaskan Knights as the Icon player. Giri believes the unique format of the Global Chess League takes the competition to a higher level.
4. Viswanathan Anand - Ganges Grandmasters: Returning as an Icon player for Ganges Grandmasters is the five-time world champion, Viswanathan Anand. Anand termed the inaugural season as a huge success with some very exciting matches, and the game being televised in this unique format will only add to its popularity.
5. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave - Mumba Masters: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the former World Blitz champion and the Icon player for the first season's finalists, Mumba Masters, will continue to lead the team. Vachier-Lagrave who was part of Mumba Masters in the first season is looking forward to another exciting edition.
6. Ian Nepomniachtchi - Triveni Continental Kings: In the second season, Ian Nepomniachtchi will be the Icon player for the defending champions, Triveni Continental Kings. Nepomniachtchi is excited to play the second season for the winners of the inaugural edition.

Global Chess League Format

The league will feature a minimum of three marquee showdowns every day between the Icon players as they lead their teams into the chess arena. The first-of-its-kind franchise-based league will feature a total of six teams.

Each team will consist of six players, including one Icon player, two superstar male players, two superstar female players, and one prodigy player.

In the following weeks, the organisers will be announcing a host of superstar men, women, and prodigy players to add to the excitement ahead of the player draft.