Ganges Grandmasters kept their Global Chess League (GCL) finals hopes alive with a commanding 12–3 victory over Fyers American Gambits on the final day of league action, while table toppers Triveni Continental Kings underlined their title credentials by edging past upGrad Mumba Masters 10–9.
The twin results ensured a tense wait for the Grandmasters, whose fate now hinges on the outcome of the final group-stage clash involving Alpine SG Pipers and PBG Alaskan Knights.
Entering the day, the equation for qualification was finely balanced. Ganges Grandmasters and Alpine SG Pipers were locked on 15 match points, with the Pipers holding a game in hand. upGrad Mumba Masters were also in contention, making it a three-way battle for the second finals berth behind the already-qualified Continental Kings. While the Grandmasters could control their own performance, progression to the final depended on results elsewhere.
Tasked with facing Fyers American Gambits, the Grandmasters delivered exactly the kind of emphatic statement they needed. From the opening moves, the contest tilted decisively in their favour, with a blend of experience and youthful energy driving home a lopsided scoreline.
On the icon board, playing with the white pieces, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand opted for solidity against American Gambits’ Hikaru Nakamura. The two heavyweights neutralised each other’s ambitions, agreeing to a draw that kept the Grandmasters steady while pressure mounted on the remaining boards.
The breakthrough came on the second board, where Germany’s Vincent Keymer produced a polished performance to defeat Vladislav Artemiev in 39 moves. Keymer’s victory gave the Grandmasters early momentum and set the tone for what would follow. That advantage was then emphatically extended by Raunak Sadhwani, who was later named Player of the Match. The young Indian outplayed reigning World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin over 42 moves, showcasing maturity and calculation well beyond his years.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
With two wins in the bag, the Grandmasters tightened their grip on the contest. Stavroula Tsolakidou added the finishing touch by defeating Teodora Injac, completing a near-perfect team performance and sealing a comprehensive 12–3 win. The result ensured the Grandmasters finished level with Alpine SG Pipers on 15 match points, keeping their finals dream alive while turning their attention to the outcome of the later match.
While the Grandmasters were doing their part, upGrad Mumba Masters faced a daunting challenge against table toppers Triveni Continental Kings. Playing with the black pieces, the Masters knew they needed a strong result to remain in contention for the second spot. To their credit, they mounted a spirited fight against the league’s most consistent side.
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov delivered a high-quality victory over Vidit Gujrathi, while Bardiya Daneshvar got the better of Marc’Andria Maurizzi. Those two results earned the Mumba Masters eight valuable game points and briefly raised hopes of a late surge.
However, Triveni Continental Kings once again demonstrated why they finished the league stage at the summit of the standings. On the icon board, Alireza Firouzja overcame Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in a high-intensity battle, swinging the momentum back in the Kings’ favour. Wei Yi then outplayed Wesley So on the second board, and Zhu Jiner proved too strong for Koneru Humpy, sealing a narrow but decisive 10–9 victory.
That defeat effectively ended Mumba Masters’ hopes of finishing in the top two, leaving the final qualification scenario to be resolved between Ganges Grandmasters and Alpine SG Pipers. For the Grandmasters, the wait would be an anxious one. While they had done everything required on the board, their progression now depended on whether PBG Alaskan Knights could halt the Pipers later in the day.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
The permutations remained complex. Alpine SG Pipers would secure second place with a win or draw against the Alaskan Knights, or even with a loss provided they scored at least six game points, which would allow them to edge past the Grandmasters on game-point differential. The Alaskan Knights, meanwhile, still had an outside chance of climbing into the top two if they could win all six games with the black pieces.
As the league stage drew to a close, one thing was clear: the Global Chess League had once again delivered drama, depth and razor-thin margins. Ganges Grandmasters’ dominant victory ensured they stayed in the hunt, Triveni Continental Kings reaffirmed their status as favourites, and the final group-stage match promised to decide the last remaining piece of the finals puzzle.
