Day two of the 2024 Tech Mahindra Global Chess League brought high drama and intense competition to the boards. The PBG Alaskan Knights emerged as the sole leaders, winning all three of their matches and securing nine match points. This puts them ahead of four teams tied with three points each, while the Ganges Grandmasters languish in last place with zero points.
With two impressive victories on day two—dominating the American Gambits 14-2, followed by a narrow 8-5 win over the Mumba Masters—the Alaskan Knights secured their position at the top of the standings.
They are followed by upGrad Mumba Masters (who have also played three matches) and Triveni Continental Kings, Alpine SG Pipers, and American Gambits—all of whom have three match points from two matches. Meanwhile, Ganges Grandmasters, led by former world champion Vishy Anand, remain winless after two consecutive defeats.
The day wasn't without surprises. World number one Magnus Carlsen suffered a shocking defeat on time against Alireza Firouzja despite being in a winning position. However, the standout player of the day was Indian prodigy Nihal Sarin, whose critical victory in the match against Mumba Masters cemented the Alaskan Knights' lead.
Here follows a closer look at the matches of day two of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League:
Mumba Masters start strong
The day opened with a match between two teams looking for redemption after losing their openers: Ganges Grandmasters and upGrad Mumba Masters. Playing with the black pieces, the Mumba Masters quickly seized control, condemning Anand's Ganges Grandmasters to their second straight defeat.
Both teams had lost their opening matches by identical 6-11 scores. The key matchup was on board one, where former world champion Vishy Anand faced off against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Despite having a better position, Anand miscalculated a tactical sequence, allowing the Frenchman to turn the tables and secure a crucial win.
From there, the Mumba Masters dominated. A win on the youngsters' board and a draw on the second women's board put them firmly in the lead. Ganges Grandmasters couldn't recover despite a valiant effort from Arjun Erigaisi, who only managed a draw against Vidit Gujrathi. Humpy Koneru's victory over Vaishali Rameshbabu sealed the deal for Mumba Masters.
Although Parham Maghsoodloo scored a consolation win over Peter Svidler, it wasn't enough to prevent a crushing 14-5 defeat for the Ganges team.
This second consecutive loss with white pieces puts the Ganges Grandmasters in a tough spot, and they will seriously need to reconsider their approach to the coming matches.
PBG Alaskan Knights march to the top
In match five, the Alaskan Knights faced the American Gambits. Both teams had won their opening matches, and the Alaskan Knights, playing with the white pieces, were eager to continue their momentum.
The top-board duel between Anish Giri (Alaskan Knights) and Hikaru Nakamura (American Gambits) ended in a hard-fought draw. The two GMs were later seen enthusiastically discussing the game's critical moments, although Nakamura noted it was his opponent's choice to go for a draw.
Giri's decision proved wise, as his teammates delivered four victories across the youngsters' board, the women's boards, and one of the other superstar boards. With an additional draw, the Alaskan Knights secured an overwhelming 14-2 victory.
This win pushed the Alaskan Knights to six match points, leaving the American Gambits with three. While the Gambits concluded their games for the day, the Alaskan Knights had one more match ahead.
Match six: Carlsen beaten by clock in a winning position against Firouzja
One of the most highly anticipated showdowns of the day was the clash between the Alpine SG Pipers and Triveni Continental Kings, which featured world number one Magnus Carlsen against Alireza Firouzja. Carlsen has long regarded Firouzja as the player most likely to succeed him at the top of the chess world, and this match did not disappoint.
After an evenly balanced start, Richard Rapport struck first for the Pipers, launching a fierce attack that overwhelmed Teimour Radjabov. Meanwhile, Hou Yifan and Alexandra Kosteniuk agreed to a draw, giving the Pipers a 4:1 lead.
On the top board, Carlsen found a weakness in Firouzja's position and gained a significant advantage. However, Firouzja still had one major weapon—more time on the clock. Under immense time pressure and with no time increment, Carlsen couldn't convert his advantage and lost on time, handing Firouzja a vital victory.
Pragnanandhaa's loss to Wei Yi (also on time) further strengthened Triveni's grip on the match. In the end, the Pipers crumbled across the remaining boards, resulting in a decisive 17-4 victory for Triveni, the most lopsided result in the competition so far.
Alaskan Knights take the lead
The final match of the day saw the Alaskan Knights take on the upGrad Mumba Masters. Both teams entered with strong performances earlier in the day, but it was the Knights who had the upper hand.
On board one, Anish Giri and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave quickly agreed to a draw, as did Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Peter Svidler. Mumba's Vidit Gujrathi had an opportunity to turn the tide against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, but after gaining a promising position, time pressure forced him to settle for a draw.
With the match hanging in the balance, it all came down to the final board. Nihal Sarin, the star youngster of the Alaskan Knights, pulled off a crucial win against Raunak Sadhwani, securing an 8-5 victory and putting the Alaskan Knights in the sole lead of the tournament.
The league resumes on Saturday with four matches scheduled to begin at 1 PM local time in London.
Written by Milan Dinic
Photos: Michal Walusza
Official website: globalchessleague.com/
About Tech Mahindra Global Chess League
The Global Chess League is the world's first and largest official franchise league of its kind, with chess players from all over the world competing in a unique joint team format. It is a joint venture between Tech Mahindra, a part of the Mahindra Group, and FIDE. The league will feature male and female chess champions competing in the same team. Playing on the popular rapid format, the league's joint male-female teams will have the rare distinction of being a unique multiplayer team in the world of professional sports. In addition, the league is a one-of-its-kind live televised chess event, offering fans a unique viewing experience. Tech Mahindra and FIDE will explore innovative ways to promote the game through interactive technology-enabled platforms by leveraging next-generation technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, among others. For more information on Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, please visit: globalchessleague.com/
Contact: Abhilasha Gupta, Head - Global Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Tech Mahindra
Email: Abhilasha.Gupta@TechMahindra.com; media.relations@techmahindra.com
