Matchday 3 of the Global Chess League (GCL) delivered everything the franchise format promises elite battles, shifting momentum, and finishes decided in the final seconds.
A last-gasp win on the prodigy board saw Fyers American Gambits overturn a deficit to stun reigning champions Triveni Continental Kings 10–8, while Ganges Grandmasters continued their impressive run with a commanding 12–3 victory over PBG Alaskan Knights. Rounding off the day, Alpine SG Pipers opened their account with a nail-biting 9–7 win against upGrad Mumba Masters.
The day began with Ganges Grandmasters asserting their growing authority in the competition. The tie against PBG Alaskan Knights was headlined by a generational icon-board clash between Viswanathan Anand and Gukesh D, but the foundation for victory was laid across the other boards. The prodigy encounter between Daniel Dardha and Raunak Sadhwani ended in a draw, keeping the contest level early on, before Chess World Cup champion Javokhir Sindarov produced a composed win over Leinier Domínguez to hand the Grandmasters a crucial edge.
From there, the Grandmasters tightened their grip. Polina Shuvalova showed excellent nerve to convert under time pressure on the women’s board, while Vincent Keymer neutralised Arjun Erigaisi in a hard-fought draw. On the icon board, Anand took control after opening with the King’s Pawn, steering the game into a sharp Sicilian Defence.
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His deep preparation and positional clarity allowed him to build a dominant queenside initiative before converting with authority. With the remaining boards ending in draws, the Grandmasters sealed a comprehensive 12–3 victory their second win in three ties and underlined their credentials as early contenders. Anand was named Player of the Match after scoring his first point of the season.
The second tie of the day produced far more twists. Triveni Continental Kings and Fyers American Gambits entered with contrasting momentum, and the opening phase appeared to favour the defending champions. On the icon board, Alireza Firouzja continued his electric start to the season, defeating Hikaru Nakamura for his third win in as many matches to give the Kings a major boost.
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Elsewhere, the contest remained finely balanced, with Wei Yi and Vladislav Artemiev sharing the point, as did Zhu Jiner and Bibisara Assaubayeva. Alexandra Kosteniuk then capitalised on a costly blunder by Teodora Injac, pushing the Kings narrowly ahead as the tie moved towards its decisive moments.
The turning point arrived on board three. Richard Rapport produced one of the standout performances of the day, defeating Vidit Gujrathi in a deeply complex tactical battle that swung momentum back towards the Gambits. Rapport’s control in chaos ensured the Gambits stayed within touching distance, setting up a dramatic finish. With Triveni leading 8–6 heading into the final board, the outcome rested on the prodigy matchup.
There, reigning World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin rose to the occasion. Showing remarkable composure under pressure, Murzin defeated Marc’Andria Maurizzi to complete a stunning turnaround and seal a thrilling 10–8 victory for the Gambits. Rapport was named Player of the Match, reflecting the significance of his contribution in keeping the tie alive.
The final tie of Matchday 3 saw Alpine SG Pipers and upGrad Mumba Masters locked in a tense, evenly poised contest. The Masters struck first as Maxime Vachier-Lagrave defeated Fabiano Caruana with the black pieces, setting the early tone. Draws followed on several heavyweight boards, including Wesley So versus Anish Giri, Praggnanandhaa versus Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Harika Dronavalli against Nino Batsiashvili, keeping the scores tight throughout.
A marquee clash of legends on the women’s board saw Hou Yifan outplay Koneru Humpy, keeping the Pipers firmly in contention. With the tie hanging on a knife’s edge, the decisive moment arrived on the prodigy board. Leon Luke Mendonca delivered a dramatic finish, mating Bardiya Daneshvar in a single move with seconds remaining on the clock to snatch a 9–7 victory for the Pipers. Mendonca was rewarded with the Player of the Match honours for his ice-cool finish.
Action continues on Matchday 4 with Fyers American Gambits facing Alpine SG Pipers, PBG Alaskan Knights taking on upGrad Mumba Masters, and Triveni Continental Kings set to meet Ganges Grandmasters in another high-stakes encounter as the league momentum continues to build.
