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PBG Alaskan Knights and FYERS American Gambits to Contest Season Opener as 32 Matches Unfold Over Nine Days.

Bengaluru, September 4, 2026: The fourth edition of the Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, promises to be a scintillating affair as world number one Magnus Carlsen returns after a year's hiatus to strengthen defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, while two-time champions Triveni Continental Kings retain their core group with an eye on a third title in four years.

The Global Chess League has emerged as one of the most coveted team competitions in the world chess calendar and will be hosted in India for the second consecutive year. Season 4 has attracted some of the world's best players for the nine-day competition, which will see six teams face off in a double round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the Grand Finale on September 13, 2026.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the competition, Peeyush Dubey, Chairman, Tech Mahindra Global Chess League , said, " We at the Global Chess League (GCL) have always believed that chess is a sport that a family can enjoy together. Chess can be a festival, and that is exactly the revolution that we are seeing. I am very happy to say that Season 4 of the Global Chess League is bigger and better in every single aspect than what we have seen. We have some of the best global players with us in Bangalore and some of the biggest companies in the world supporting this movement. "

Apart from Carlsen, 2026 Candidates winner Javokhir Sindarov, Alireza Firouzja, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Viswanathan Anand and Ian Nepomniachtchi will lead their respective teams as icon players.