Following the triumphant debut in Dubai, the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (October 3-11) is gearing up for its second edition in London. The Global Chess League, which transformed the sport with its franchise-based format, drawing global stars like Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand, has now shifted to London for the upcoming season. However, Peeyush Dubey, chairperson of the league, did not dismiss the possibility of returning to Dubai. "Dubai remains an option for us. As a Global Chess League, our vision is to expand this chess tournament across every continent, every country," Dubey shared with the Khaleej Times. "We anticipate more international participation in season two, and Dubai has been an exceptional stage. We certainly hope and aim to return to Dubai. The experience there was truly remarkable, and we eagerly look forward to being back."
The league features a distinctive joint team format, with male and female players competing together on the same team. The second season will witness six teams battling for the title, following the inaugural season's victory by Triveni Continental Kings in Dubai last year. Dubey expressed that the organizers could not have chosen a better venue than Dubai for the league's first edition. "The inaugural edition of any major event holds immense significance. Dubai provided the ideal platform for our first season," he noted. "Dubai had also hosted the World Chess Championship the previous year. The global chess scene has seen a surge, particularly post-pandemic. Chess has become a highly popular sport, and Dubai's proximity to India, coupled with its status as a global city, offered us an exceptional platform for the Global Chess League."
The success of the chess league and the forthcoming larger second season in London are attributed to the strong start in Dubai last year. Dubey mentioned that the positive feedback from legends like Carlsen and Anand motivated them to prepare for an even grander second season in London. "The feedback has been exceptionally positive. These Grand Masters are deeply invested in the growth of chess. They aspire to see chess become even more popular," he said. "One of the challenges chess has faced is its one-on-one nature. It involves two individuals seated across a table, engrossed in their own world. This new team-based league has made chess more accessible to a wider audience. The uniqueness of the Global Chess League lies in its team format, which aligns with what the audience typically desires. The audience tends to support a team in sports, and this broadening of the audience is what the prominent grand masters appreciated about this tournament."
