Dubai to host inaugural edition of Global Chess League
The Global Chess League (GCL), a joint venture between FIDE and Tech Mahindra, announced Dubai as the venue for the inaugural edition in a press conference today 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 Vice President, FIDE, CP Gurnani, Managing Director and CEO, Tech Mahindra, Parag Shah, EVP and Head, Mahindra Excello and Member, Global Chess League Board, and Jagdish Mitra, Gulf Chairman, Global Chess League Board in the city.
The world’s largest and first franchise-based chess league will be held in Dubai in association with Dubai Sports Council, the host partner of the league.
Talking about hosting the inaugural edition of the Global Chess League, His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the 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 bring us the game of chess to a new audience and help existing fans become more engaged with the game than ever before. The Global Chess League is a first of its kind tournament with a team vs. team format featuring the best chess players from around the world. will bring together players from around the world, representing leading nations and providing a unique experience to chess fans globally. We look forward to welcoming champions from around the world to Dubai, the growing capital of the game .
The Global Chess League will draw the world’s attention to a new chess format and create an ecosystem for the game, providing a platform for champions from around the world to showcase their potential.
Viswanathan Anand, five-time world chess champion and vice-president of FIDE, said, “Dubai has been attracting various sporting events. The World Chess Championship in Dubai in 2021 during the Dubai Expo was a great success. Similarly, I believe that the Global Chess League will mark a new beginning in the fan experience. Its unique team format will contribute to the growth and development of chess. The league aims to revolutionize the game by bringing together established and emerging talents on the same team. Men, Women And all the players including the juniors will contribute equally to the success of their team.I am looking forward to a great inaugural season.
The first edition of the Global Chess League, to be held from June 21 to July 2, 2023, will feature six teams of six players, including a minimum of two women players and one icon player in each team. Six teams will compete in a round-robin format where 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 destination. Among major sporting events, among many others, it has hosted the FIDE World Championship match 2021, which was a huge success. Thanks to this experience, we are determined to deliver a memorable first edition of the Global Chess League. Can’t think of a better partner.
Each match will have six boards which will be played simultaneously. The top two teams will qualify for the final on July 2, 2023 and will be crowned the World Champion franchise team.
Jagdish Mitra, Chairperson, Global Chess League Board, said, “Dubai has emerged as a leading global sporting and business destination over the past decade. Strengthening the UAE’s digital economy and cementing its position as a global knowledge hub noteworthy. This makes Dubai an ideal location to host the inaugural edition of a tournament such as the Global Chess League. We believe that our partnership with the Dubai Sports Council, the official sports governing body of the Government of Dubai, will help the country A big step towards further strengthening our relationship with Dubai, we look forward to hosting a successful league in Dubai and ushering in a new era for the sport.”
The league will also set the benchmark for technological innovations in the game of chess as FIDE and Tech Mahindra explore new ways to promote the game through interactive technology-enabled platforms by leveraging next-generation technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. have been , among others.
