Dubai to host inaugural edition of Global Chess League

Dubai (Uttam Hindu News): The Global Chess League (GCL), a joint venture between the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Tech Mahindra, has chosen Dubai as the host venue for its inaugural edition. The organizers announced this on Wednesday.

Consul General of India in Dubai Dr. Aman Puri, five-time World Chess Champion and FIDE Vice President Viswanathan Anand, Tech Mahindra Managing Director and CEO CP Gurnani, Global Chess League Board Chairman Jagdish Mitra among others were present on the occasion. are.

The world’s largest and first franchise-based chess league will be held in the global city of Dubai in association with its host partner Dubai Sports Council.

Commenting on hosting the inaugural edition of the GCL, His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of Dubai Sports Council, said, “Hosting the Global Chess League is a momentous occasion for us. FIDE and Tech Mahindra’s vision for the league will truly reinvent the game of chess to new audiences and help existing fans fall in love with the game more than ever. We look forward to welcoming champions from around the world to Dubai as it emerges as the new sporting capital of the world. ,

The Global Chess League will capture the attention of the world with the new format and create a new ecosystem for the game. Due to this arrangement, champions from all over the world will get a great platform to show their chess ability.

Viswanathan Anand said, “Dubai has been attracting various sporting events. The World Chess Championship organized in Dubai in 2021 during the Dubai Expo was a great success. Similarly, I believe that GCL will give a new kind of experience to chess lovers. Its unique team format will contribute to the development of chess. ,

The first edition of the Global Chess League will be held from June 21 to July 2, 2023. In this, each team will consist of a total of six players including at least two women players and one renowned player. Six teams will participate in the round-robin format and each team will play 10 matches.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said, “We are excited to announce our partnership with the Dubai Sports Council to host the inaugural edition of the Global Chess League in Dubai. The city has established itself as a world-class event venue and has hosted the FIDE World Championship match 2021, which was a huge success, apart from several other sporting leagues. We couldn’t have thought of a better host to make the first edition of the Global Chess League a memorable one. ,

Each match in the Global Chess League will have six boards to be contested on simultaneously. The top two teams after the league stage will qualify for the final to be held on July 2 to crown the world champion franchise team.

Jagdish Mitra, Chairman of the Global Chess League Board, said, “Dubai has emerged as a leading global sports and business destination over the past decade. It has played a significant role in strengthening the UAE’s digital economy and cementing its position as a global knowledge hub. All this makes Dubai an ideal venue to host the inaugural edition of a tournament such as the Global Chess League. ,