Global Chess League: Team Names And Owners Of All Six Franchises Ahead Of GCL Season 1

The Global Chess League (GCL), a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, on Monday (June 5) unveiled the six participating franchises for its highly anticipated first edition.

The league, set to revolutionize the chess ecosystem, will commence with a players' draft where franchise owners will select players for their respective teams. The league is scheduled to take place from June 21 to July 2 at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.

The GCL aims to redefine the world of chess by bringing together the brightest stars in the game, including Viswanathan Anand, Ding Liren, Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Hou Yifan, Kateryna Lagno, and other renowned players.

U SPORTS, Insurekot Sports (ISPL), Punit Balan Group, Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd., Chingari App, and APL Apollo-led SG Sports are the franchises committed to propelling the chess revolution forward.

GCL Teams and Owners

With a strong vision and long-term commitment to establishing a solid foundation, the Global Chess League (GCL) has unveiled plans to kick off its first two seasons with the participation of six dedicated franchises.

GCL Format and Rules

The annual GCL tournament will introduce a unique mixed-team format, wherein each of the six franchises will engage in a total of 10 matches played in a double round-robin style.

In this exciting setup, the winner of each match will be determined through a best-of-six board scoring system, played simultaneously.

The top two teams emerging from these thrilling encounters will then proceed to the final, scheduled to take place on July 2, where the ultimate honour of being crowned the World Champion Franchise Team awaits.

Source: Media Release