Global Chess League Matchday 1: Ganges thump Titans, Mumbai edge past Triveni Kings

The inaugural edition of the Global Chess League has started in Dubai, with the first two matches taking place on Thursday (June 22).

For the first time ever, chess is employing a well-established football practice of flipping the coin to choose the side. In the case of chess, the flip of a coin was used to decide the colour of the pieces. In another novelty, the entire team was playing with the same colour of pieces, unlike in standard chess events where both teams have an equal number of black and white boards. In the new circumstances, the side playing with white pieces has the initial advantage of the first move which might prove valuable for the outcome.

Mumba Masters edge past Triveni Continental Kings

The first teams to face each other were the Triveni Continental Kings who were up against upGrad Mumba Masters.

After the coin toss, it was decided that Triveni Continental Kings will be playing with white pieces, giving a small but important edge to the team in their first match. Led by Levon Aronian, a super Grandmaster who has long been among the world's best players, the Triveni Continental Kings played a steady match upGrad Mumba Masters.

Despite the initiative of the first move, the Kings failed to capitalise on their advantage.

In a slightly better position and with more time, Levon Aronian misplayed and allowed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (another Icon player of the Global Chess League) to equalise and bring the game to a draw.

The team faced another setback when Chinese Grandmaster Yu Yangyi suffered a defeat at the hands of Russian heavyweight Alexander Grischuk, giving upGrad Mumba Masters an important advantage as a victory with black pieces counts as four points. Despite Yu's compatriot Wie Yi scoring a victory against India's Vidit Gujrathi and earning three points, the Kings were still a point short.

Unfortunately for them, all three other games ended in a draw. This meant that the final score saw upGrad Mumba Masters secure eight points while the Triveni Continental Kings ended on seven thus losing the match, despite the initial advantage. Apart from the eight points achieved in their games, the winning team is awarded another three points for winning the match.

Final Score: Mumba Masters 8 (Game Points) - 7 (Game Points) Triveni Continental Kings

Ganges Grandmasters thump Chingari Titans

The second match of the day was between Ganges Grandmasters and Chingari Gulf Titans. The Ganges Grandmasters were lucky to make their debut at the GCL playing with white pieces.

The Ganges team has seasoned and experienced world players such as the legendary Indian Grandmaster and five-time world champion Vishy Anand as well as the former women's world champion Hou Yifan.

The team also has Richard Rapport, one of the most creative chess players of the younger generation, who played a crucial role in Ding Liren's path to securing the world chess crown (acting as his second and advising him during the match for the world title).

The advantage of playing with white pieces and experience came in handy as Vishwanathan Anand managed to defeat Jan-Krzysztof Duda, the former winner of the World Cup.

The Indian grandmaster's early victory gave an important boost to the Ganges team. Hou Yifan was the second to score, defeating another former women's world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in a thrilling game. Those two victories were the only decisive games of the match as the other four ended in a draw.

In the end, the Ganges Grandmasters won with 10 game points, while the Titans ended on four. With an added three match points following their victory, the Ganges Grandmasters have had an excellent start and have capitalised hugely on their advantage of playing with white pieces.

Final Score: Ganges Grandmasters 10 (Game Points) - 4 (Game Points) Chingari Gulf Titans