We’re a couple of days away from the second season of the Tech Mahindra World Chess League, happening October 3-11 in London. GMs Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Viswanathan Anand, Hou Yifan, and Vaishali Rameshbabu are among the many gamers in what is predicted to be one other thrilling showcase of quick chess performed amongst six groups for a $1 million prize fund.
There are loads of totally different chess occasions today, each over-the-board and on-line, and also you may not keep in mind all of the ins and outs of what the primary World Chess League was all about. Therefore, here is a preview of the second version that tells you every thing you could know.
What’s the World Chess League?
The Tech Mahindra World Chess League (GCL) is the world’s first and largest official franchise chess league. The time period franchise league refers to an expert sports activities league the place groups (franchises) are privately owned and operated as particular person companies below the league’s umbrella. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) in cricket or the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL) in American soccer as profitable examples, the GCL is an avenue for chess to grow to be much more in style.
The Indian multinational info know-how providers firm Tech Mahindra is the principle sponsor behind the league and works along with the Worldwide Chess Federation (FIDE) to advertise chess additional, with modern codecs and applied sciences. Ultimately, the groups must be sharing income from sources like broadcasting offers, sponsorships, and ticket gross sales.
Chess followers!
London is Calling. See you quickly in season 2.#TechMGCL #TheNextMove pic.twitter.com/n5Re5bfkcQ
— Tech Mahindra World Chess League (@GCLlive) June 27, 2024
It’s undoubtedly an ideal factor that we now have the World Chess League within the chess circuit,” mentioned GM Arjun Erigaisi to the official web site. “I actually hope it makes a huge impact within the chess world like IPL did to cricket.”
“We’re but to see if the idea will take off in our sport in addition to it did in cricket, however such initiatives are essential to attempt to push chess to additional heights, utilizing the momentum that it has gotten in the previous few years,” mentioned GM Anish Giri.
Who’s enjoying?
Additionally on this second season, the event will comprise six groups, all with six gamers:
What is the format?
Every crew ought to have not less than two girls and not less than one participant born in 2003 or later. The crew composition, with a hard and fast board order, is as follows:
- Highest rated participant (“icon”)
- Male participant
- Male participant
- Feminine participant
- Feminine participant
- A participant who’s 21 years outdated or youthful
In contrast to in different crew occasions, right here, in every match all gamers of 1 crew will play with the identical coloration. The event begins as a double round-robin, which means that every crew will play all different groups twice, as soon as with every coloration. The time management is 20 minutes for the entire recreation with out increment.
The factors system can be totally different. A win with the black items is value 4 recreation factors, a win with the white items 3 recreation factors, a draw is value 1 recreation level, and a loss 0 factors. A crew victory is value 3 match factors, a tie is value 1 match level, and a loss is value 0 match factors.
The 2 groups with probably the most match factors after the round-robin part qualify for a closing, to be performed over two matches. In case of a tie, there shall be blitz playoffs.
In regards to the particular format of the event, Anand mentioned:
Chess is a person recreation. Nonetheless, once you play for a crew, you may have an added duty, as your efficiency can immediately or not directly impression your crew members’ outcomes. So, everyone seems to be motivated to do nicely. On prime of that, when all of the crew members get alongside nicely, and the crew environment is nice, gamers may be impressed to supply their finest performances.
When does it begin and the way can I watch it?
After the opening ceremony, to be held on Wednesday, October 2, the primary spherical will kick off on Thursday, October 3, at 13:15 London time (8:15 a.m. ET / 14:15 CEST / 5:45 p.m. IST). Matches aren’t performed concurrently however are staggered, so the second match begins at 15:55 (10:55 a.m. ET / 16:55 CEST / 8:25 p.m. IST) and 17:15 (12:15 p.m. ET / 18:15 CEST / 9:45 p.m. IST). The identical schedule shall be adopted on subsequent days, with an added recreation beginning at 14:30 (9:30 a.m. ET / 15:30 CEST / 9:30 p.m. IST).
The massive closing shall be performed on Saturday, October 12, once more beginning at 13:15 London time (8:15 a.m. ET / 14:15 CEST / 5:45 p.m. IST) and its second match beginning at 14:35 London time (9:35 a.m. ET / 15:35 CEST / 7:05 p.m. IST).
Chess.com is the official platform companion of the Tech Mahindra World Chess League. You may observe the published stay on the World Chess League’s official broadcast web site (coming quickly). The video games may be adopted on our devoted Occasions Web page. There’s additionally the league’s official web site.
Who gained final yr?
The reignign champions are the Triveni Continental Kings, who gained in July 2023 in Dubai, UAE, after an unimaginable comeback. The crew defeated the upGrad Mumba Masters however not earlier than a blitz tiebreak match, after which additionally a sudden-death recreation was wanted to find out the champion. The Danish GM Jonas Bjerre was the hero for the Kings as he took down the upGrad Mumba Masters’ board six, GM Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan, within the fourth sudden-death blitz tiebreaker.
What are the prizes?
The $1 million prize fund shall be allotted as follows:
| Place | Prize |
| 1st | $500,000 |
| 2nd | $250,000 |
| third | $100,000 |
| 4th | $100,000 |
| Bonus prize* | $50,000 |
* The bonus prize is split among the many six gamers and the coach of the profitable crew.
Can I go to the event?
Sure! The event takes place at Mates Home (173-177 Euston Rd., London NW1 2BJ) situated in central London, from Thursday, October 3, to Saturday, October 12. Tickets will get you:
- A seat within the Gentle Auditorium to observe the matches stay
- A seat within the Gentle Auditorium to observe pre/post-match interviews with knowledgeable evaluation
- Social chess space (restricted house) to play informal video games
- Autograph and photograph alternatives with the gamers (restricted house)
- Plus venue unique fan experiential occasions
