WEB DESK
The Global Chess League (GCL), the world’s largest and first franchise-based chess league, has announced Dubai as the venue for its inaugural edition. The joint venture between FIDE (International Chess Federation) and Tech Mahindra, a part of the Mahindra Group, revealed the news at a press conference in the presence of key dignitaries such as Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai, Viswanathan Anand, five-time world chess champion, and Deputy President, FIDE, CP Gurnani, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra, Parag Shah, EVP & Head, Mahindra Accelo, and Member, Global Chess League Board, and Jagdish Mitra, Chairperson, Global Chess League Board.
The league’s Host Partner will be Dubai Sports Council, and it will be held from June 21 to July 2, 2023, featuring six teams with six players each, including a minimum of two female players and one icon player per team. Each match featured six boards played simultaneously, with the top two teams qualifying for the final on July 2, 2023. The league aims to create an ecosystem for the sport, providing a platform for champions worldwide to showcase the potential of chess.
The league will also set new standards for technological innovations in the sport of chess as FIDE and Tech Mahindra will explore innovative ways to promote the game through interactive technology-enabled platforms. They plan to leverage next-generation technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, among others.
Viswanathan Anand, five-time world chess champion and FIDE Deputy President, said the unique team format would contribute to the growth and development of chess. The league aims to revolutionize the game by having established and emerging talent play together on the same team, including men, women, and juniors, who will contribute equally to their team’s success. Jagdish Mitra, Chairperson, Global Chess League Board, believes Dubai is an ideal location for the tournament and that the partnership with Dubai Sports Council is a major step forward in further strengthening ties with the country.
The GCL will be the first-ever live televised chess event of its kind, offering fans a unique viewing experience. The league promises to draw the world’s attention to a new chess format and create a new era for the sport.