World Champion D Gukesh delivered one of the standout moments of matchday 6 at the Global Chess League (GCL), defeating Alireza Firouzja in a high-quality reverse fixture, but defending champions Triveni Continental Kings showed why they remain the team to beat, edging PBG Alaskan Knights 10–9 to retain top spot on the leaderboard.
Earlier in the day, however, the Kings had suffered a setback, going down 8–12 to Alpine SG Pipers. Meanwhile, upGrad Mumba Masters stayed firmly in contention with a composed 11–6 win over Ganges Grandmasters.
With the third edition of the GCL entering the second leg of the group stage, the Continental Kings faced a demanding schedule with two matches in a single day. The champions knew that maximum points would allow them to pull clear of Mumba Masters, who briefly climbed to the summit following their win earlier in the evening. Instead, Friday proved to be a test of resilience rather than dominance for the table-toppers.
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The day began with disappointment for the Kings as they were outplayed by Alpine SG Pipers. On the icon board, Fabiano Caruana once again underlined his pedigree by defeating Alireza Firouzja, a result that swung momentum decisively in Pipers’ favour. That loss meant the Continental Kings entered their second tie of the day against the Alaskan Knights knowing there was little margin for error if they were to stay ahead in the standings.
Against the Knights, the Kings made a strong start. Alexandra Kosteniuk produced a controlled performance to beat Sara Khadem, while Wei Yi’s win over Arjun Erigaisi gave the defending champions an early six-point cushion. At that stage, the tie appeared to be tilting decisively towards the Kings. However, the Knights refused to go away quietly. Kateryna Lagno struck back in emphatic fashion, defeating Zhu Jiner to earn four crucial points and bring the contest back into balance.
The marquee clash on the icon board saw Gukesh facing Firouzja, a pairing that has quickly become one of the most compelling rivalries in the league. Having lost to the Iranian-French star in the first half of the tournament, Gukesh approached the rematch with clarity and patience. Playing with the black pieces, the 19-year-old Indian World Champion managed his time superbly, gradually outplaying Firouzja in a rook-and-pawn endgame. The win not only avenged his earlier defeat but also handed Firouzja his second loss of the day, following his setback against Caruana.
Yet, even Gukesh’s headline-grabbing victory was not enough for the Alaskan Knights to seal a third successive team win. With the tie finely poised, Vidit Gujarathi finally found his rhythm in the tournament, defeating Leinier Dominguez in 39 moves. Vidit’s timely contribution ensured the Continental Kings edged the contest 10–9 and picked up vital match points to stay on top of the leaderboard.
Named Player of the Match, Vidit spoke candidly about the emotional swing of the day. “It’s a relief,” he said. “It feels like you are climbing a mountain and you get an oxygen cylinder. Today, I was very upset after the first game, and I am really happy that my win counted for the team.” His result encapsulated the Kings’ day scrappy at times, but ultimately effective when it mattered most.
Earlier, upGrad Mumba Masters had applied pressure on the leaders with a convincing 11–6 victory over Ganges Grandmasters. GM Wesley So, Player of the Match Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Koneru Humpy all delivered wins to give the Masters a strong foundation.
On the icon board, Viswanathan Anand created persistent pressure against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave with the black pieces, but the former World Champion was unable to convert his advantage into a full point. Still, the overall balance of results ensured that Mumba Masters stayed firmly in the title race.
In the day’s other encounter, PBG Alaskan Knights registered a 9–7 win over Fyers American Gambits. Arjun Erigaisi’s victory over Vladislav Artemiev proved decisive, while Sara Khadem turned the tables on Teodora Injac to secure valuable points for the Knights.
As the league moves deeper into the group stage, the Continental Kings continue to lead, but their grip at the top is far from unchallenged. With Mumba Masters close behind and several teams showing the ability to swing matches on individual boards, the GCL is shaping up for a tightly contested finish where even a single endgame, like Gukesh’s against Firouzja, can have league-wide consequences.
