Global Chess League Season 4 to be held in Bengaluru

The fourth edition of the Global Chess League (GCL) is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru, India, from September 5 to September 13, 2026. A joint venture between FIDE and Tech Mahindra, the tournament features a double round-robin format among six teams, with the top two advancing to a Grand Finale.

Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers will feature the return of World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, alongside players such as Anish Giri, Vidit Gujrathi, Divya Deshmukh, and Koneru Humpy. Other prominent icon players participating include Viswanathan Anand, Alireza Firouzja, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Javokhir Sindarov.

The competition utilizes a franchise model where teams are composed of Icons, Superstars, and Prodigies (players under 21). Previous editions of the league have been hosted in Dubai, London, and Mumbai.