Global Chess League: Three winners to join franchises through Contenders programme

Three winners from around the world will join Global Chess League franchises through the new Contenders programme ahead of the third edition of the franchise-based league, the organisers announced here on Thursday.

The global initiative to find new talent under ‘GCL Contenders’ would be conducted over nearly two months with registrations starting on Thursday.

“Open to amateurs and professionals, this multi-tiered tournament will spotlight grassroots talent, strengthen the chess community, and culminate with the winners stepping onto the same stage as global icons,” GCL said.

“The multi-tiered tournament is designed to unlock grassroots talent, strengthen the global chess community, and culminate with winners sharing the stage with global icons.” “In addition, GCL Contenders will unite players across six time zones — from India to the USA, UK, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia — fuelling the league’s growth as a truly global chess community,” it added.

The third edition of the GCL, a joint venture between FIDE and Tech Mahindra, will begin on December 13.

“With GCL Contenders, we are taking this vision further by opening the stage to aspiring players worldwide, allowing them to potentially compete alongside the world’s greatest Grandmasters,” said Peeyush Dubey, GCL chairperson in a release.

The aspiring players will have to register on the GCL portal in one of the three categories including male, female and U-21. Participants with an active chess.com account and at least 25 games played will be placed in 18 rapid arenas representing franchises.

“The top two from each arena qualify, and together with four invited players chosen for their chess merit, community impact, or fan appeal, form a pool of 16 contenders,” GCL said.

These 16 players will then compete in Titled GCL Knockouts facing each other, from where four winners will advance to Challengers Knock Out where they will be joined by four additional grandmasters or international masters.

Top three winners from each category from the Challengers Knock Out will then secure their respective spots as ‘GCL Season 3 ambassadors’.

“We are excited to see this continue with the new Contenders programme, which will bring together professional and non-professional players in competition to become the ambassadors of the third season of the GCL,” said FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich.