Alpine SG Pipers strengthened their title credentials on Matchday 4 of the Global Chess League (GCL) with a composed 10–4 victory over Fyers American Gambits, moving up to second place on the table.
In the day’s other fixture, leaders upGrad Mumba Masters underlined their authority with a commanding 18–2 win over PBG Alaskan Knights to consolidate their position at the top of the standings.
The results continued the trend of clear momentum swings in the early phase of the league, with teams beginning to separate themselves through consistency on key boards. For the Pipers, it was another performance built around timely individual brilliance and calm decision-making under pressure, while Mumba Masters showcased depth across boards in a near-flawless outing.
In the first clash of Matchday 4, Alpine SG Pipers once again opted to play with the white pieces after winning the toss, repeating the approach that had brought them success against overnight leaders upGrad Mumba Masters in the previous round. Against the Gambits, the margins were tight across the top four boards for much of the match, but the difference came on the prodigy board, where GM Leon Luke Mendonca delivered yet another clinical performance.
The Goan grandmaster continued his impressive run by defeating reigning World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin. Playing a Closed Catalan, Mendonca steadily built pressure before uncorking a bishop sacrifice on move 18 that tilted the position decisively in his favour. From there, he maintained control with precise calculation and strong time management, eventually forcing Murzin into time trouble. The Russian ran out of time on move 46, handing the Pipers a crucial advantage that set the tone for the rest of the tie.
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The women’s board produced one of the most dramatic moments of the day. Nino Batsiashvili, later named Player of the Match, was under sustained pressure for large stretches of her 61-move encounter against Teodora Injac. However, showing remarkable resilience, Batsiashvili found counterplay in the endgame, advancing her pawns at just the right moment to turn the tables. Injac, faced with an increasingly dangerous position, was eventually forced to resign, sealing the win for the Pipers and briefly taking them to the top of the live standings.
Reflecting on her game, Batsiashvili said, “I played all in and pushed my pawn, and at some point I realised I had a chance to win.” It was her third win in four matches, underlining her growing influence in the Pipers’ campaign.
The second match of the day saw upGrad Mumba Masters deliver a statement performance against PBG Alaskan Knights, winning 18–2 despite playing with the black pieces. The result not only extended their lead at the top of the table but also highlighted the balance and experience within the Mumba Masters lineup.
Veteran Koneru Humpy played a key role, navigating a complex position against Kateryna Lagno. Although Humpy lived dangerously at times, she remained alert to her opponent’s inaccuracies. Lagno’s decision to sacrifice her queen without adequate follow-up proved costly, and Humpy capitalised decisively, forcing resignation after 33 moves.
On the adjacent board, D Harika produced another assured display, earning Player of the Match honours with a 50-move victory over Alexandra Kosteniuk. Harika’s ability to stay patient in a long endgame and gradually press home her advantage once again proved invaluable for the Masters.
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The Alaskan Knights’ struggles were compounded when Arjun Erigaisi ran out of time in his game against Wesley So, handing Mumba Masters additional points. On the icon board, however, the Knights found some resistance. World champion D Gukesh was held to a 31-move draw by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, extending Gukesh’s wait for a first win this season but ensuring there was no clean sweep on the marquee board.
Bardiya Daneshvar rounded off the Masters’ tally with a win over Daniel Dardha, completing an emphatic performance that reaffirmed the team’s status as early favourites for the title.
With Matchday 4 concluding, attention now turns to the final fixture of the day, where Triveni Continental Kings are set to face Ganges Grandmasters. The result of that encounter could further tighten the mid-table battle as teams look to establish momentum before the business end of the league.
Action resumes on Matchday 5 with a packed schedule. Leaders upGrad Mumba Masters will take on Triveni Continental Kings, Alpine SG Pipers face PBG Alaskan Knights, and Ganges Grandmasters go up against Fyers American Gambits.
As the Global Chess League continues to gather pace, consistency across boards and composure in decisive moments are proving to be the defining factors and both the Pipers and Mumba Masters showed plenty of both on Wednesday.
