Alpine SG Pipers produced a performance of composure and clarity under pressure to dethrone two-time defending champions Triveni Continental Kings and lift the title at the third edition of the Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE.
In a final that mirrored the unpredictability of the league stage, the Pipers delivered when it mattered most, winning both rapid matches to seal a comprehensive championship victory.
Having scraped into the final by the narrowest of margins edging out Ganges Grandmasters by just one game point the Pipers arrived with momentum built during a strong second half of the season. That late surge translated seamlessly into the title clash, where they outplayed a Continental Kings side that had been the most consistent team across the league stage.
The final opened with the Pipers taking black pieces in the first rapid match and still asserting control, clinching a 4–2 win. Their balance across boards proved decisive, as the prodigy board once again emerged as a major strength. Nino Batsiashvili showcased excellent endgame technique to defeat Alexandra Kosteniuk in a bishop-versus-knight ending, while Leon Luke Mendonca forced Marc’Andria Maurizzi into resignation after a long, grinding 52-move battle that underlined his maturity beyond his years.
On the icon board, Triveni Continental Kings’ talisman Alireza Firouzja struck back with a win over Fabiano Caruana, briefly swinging momentum in his team’s favour. However, Anish Giri’s calm and precise victory over Wei Yi ensured that the Pipers maintained their advantage and closed out the first rapid match 4–2.
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That result left the Continental Kings with a steep challenge in the second match, needing at least four points with black pieces to keep the contest alive. Any hopes of a comeback were quickly dented when R Praggnanandhaa handed the Pipers an early edge with a sharp win over Vidit Gujrathi. Giri then delivered the decisive blow, registering his second win of the final against Wei Yi to put the overall result beyond doubt.
“Yesterday I had a mixed feeling because I had a terrible match but the team reached the final. But today there is no mixed feeling,” Giri said after being named Player of the Match for his two crucial victories.
Although the title was already secured, the icon board still delivered a notable moment as Caruana defeated Firouzja after the latter ran out of time. Despite that loss, Firouzja’s outstanding run across the tournament where he beat all his opponents in the first five matches earned him the Male Player of the Tournament award. Pipers’ Hou Yifan, meanwhile, was named Female Player of the Tournament after playing a pivotal role in the business end of the league, winning three matches in three appearances to guide her team into the final.
Reflecting on the triumph, Praggnanandhaa summed up the Pipers’ journey: “It feels great. The last two times, we were quite close to making the final. This time also we barely made it. But in the final everyone showed up with their best game and it is a great feeling.”
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Earlier in the day, PBG Alaskan Knights secured third place after a dramatic playoff win over Ganges Grandmasters. The contest went down to the wire, with the Grandmasters taking a 4–2 lead in the first rapid match with white pieces. The Knights responded strongly to level the tie and force blitz tiebreaks.
The clash also featured a compelling narrative on the icon board, where reigning world champion D Gukesh finally overcame five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand when it mattered most. Anand had earlier held the upper hand in the matchup, winning the first game and drawing the second in the playoff phase. However, Gukesh turned the tables in the decisive moment.
Arjun Erigaisi played a vital supporting role for the Knights, dominating Vincent Keymer across the rapid games and the first blitz tiebreak to keep his team in contention. The Knights then edged the first blitz tiebreak 3.5–2.5, with Erigaisi, Kateryna Lagno and Sara Khadem all scoring full points.
With the second blitz tiebreak delicately poised and all games heading for results, the Knights led 3–2, leaving the outcome dependent on the final game between Anand and Gukesh.
Under immense pressure, the young world champion capitalised on minor inaccuracies from the veteran to win in 49 moves, sealing the third-place trophy and bringing a thrilling conclusion to a memorable edition of the Global Chess League.
