Global Chess League 2024: Indians in action, teams, format, scoring system, time

The second edition of the Global Chess League, a six-team franchise tournament, will be held in London from 3-12 October.
Some of the most well-known players in the world will be in contention, including five-time World Champion and current World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, former World Champion Viswanathan Anand, world number two Hikaru Nakamura, and 21-year-old Alireza Firouzja.
Additionally, former Women’s World Champions Hou Yifan, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tan Zhongyi, and other leading Grandmasters are among the 36 players participating in the prestigious event.
“This event is ground-breaking in both concept and format. It sets a new standard not only for chess but for sports worldwide. The initiative to combine men and women on the same team is inspiring and will greatly promote the game globally,” FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich.
Indians at Global Chess League

Alpine SG Pipers: Superstar Men - R Praggnanandhaa
Ganges Grandmasters: Icon Player - Viswanathan Anand, Superstar Men - Arjun Erigaisi, Superstar Women - R Vaishali
upGrad Mumba Masters: Superstar Men - Vidit Gujrathi, Superstar Women - Koneru Humpy, Superstar Women - Harika Dronavalli
PBG Alaskan Knights: Prodigy - Nihal Sarin
Teams at Global Chess League
Triveni Continental Kings are the defending champions. They claimed victory in the inaugural edition last year in Dubai, with a dramatic last-minute win against the pGrad Mumba Masters.
This year, six teams are in contention: Alpine SG Pipers, led by Magnus Carlsen; Ganges Grandmasters, led by Viswanathan Anand; upGrad Mumba Masters, led by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave; PBG Alaskan Knights, led by Anish Giri; Triveni Continental Kings, led by Alireza Firouzja; and American Gambits, led by Hikaru Nakamura.
Format of the Global Chess League
Each team includes six players: one Icon Player (a top-rated Grandmaster rated 2700 or above), two Grandmasters, two top-female players, and one player aged 21 or younger.
The teams will compete in a double round-robin format, meaning they will face every team twice. As against traditional tournaments where each team has an equal number of players playing with black or white pieces, at the Global Chess League, the teams will play with one colour for the duration of a match and switch in the rematch.
Each game will last only 20 minutes, with no time increment, making time a significant factor.
Scoring system
The scoring system is similar to football rather than traditional chess which has 0 points for loss, 0.5 for a draw and 1 for a win.
At the Global Chess League, a win with the black pieces earns four points, while a win with white earns three. A draw is worth one point, and a loss earns no points.
Beyond the individual game results, a team victory is rewarded with three additional points, a draw with one, and a loss with zero.
After the round-robin phase of the competition, the two teams with the highest points will advance to the final, which will be decided over two matches. If a tie occurs, blitz format will decide the winner.
Where is the Global Chess League taking place?
The Global Chess League 2024 takes place at Friends House, Euston (NW1 2BJ) in London, United Kingdom.
When is the Global Chess League?
The Global Chess League's first round starts on 3 October, at 5:45pm IST. Each day will feature three matches (at 5:45pm, 8:25pm, and 9:45pm IST).
The final will be played on 12 October, with matches beginning at 5:45pm and 7:05pm IST respectively.
Where to watch the Global Chess League?
The Global Chess League will be broadcast live on the JioCinema app and website.