D Gukesh returns to Global Chess League as Magnus Carlsen pulls out

Chess world champion D Gukesh is set for a return to the Global Chess League (GCL), while World No 1 chess player Magnus Carlsen will be missing the third season, which will take place in India. While Carsen was part of the first two seasons of GCL, Gukesh did not take part in the 2024 tournament to prepare for the World Chess Championship match against Ding Liren.

Besides Gukesh, some of the world's top chess players, including five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave will also be part of GCL 3.

The top women Grandmasters in the tournament would include women’s world champion Hou Yifan and Indian legend Koneru Humpy. The U-21 Prodigy category will feature Volodar Murzin, winner 2024 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, and Marc’Andria Maurizzi, the 2023 World Junior champion.

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The draft for GCL 3 will take place on 26 September in Mumbai. The franchises will build their rosters over four draft rounds, and the pool will be segmented into Icon Players, Men’s, Women’s, and U-21 Prodigy categories. Marquee names will headline this year’s draft.

The third season will have six franchises -- Triveni Continental Kings, PBG Alaskan Knights, UpGrad Mumba Masters, Ganges Grandmasters, Alpine SG Pipers and American Gambits.

“GCL is more than a tournament — it’s a celebration of intelligence, teamwork, and creativity. It combines tradition with innovation and creates a platform worthy of the game’s global stature. I’m proud to see such a league emerging from India onto the world stage,” Viswanathan Anand said.

Peeyush Dubey, chairperson, Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, said GCL Season 3 draft would mark another exciting milestone for the league as they bring together exceptional talent from across the globe.

“This season promises bigger battles, mega moves, and a new wave of chess innovation for fans. With every season, we’re not just building teams- we’re elevating the future of chess and inspiring a new generation of players and enthusiasts,” he said.