The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL) is an international, franchise-based chess league. It features elite players competing as part of six structured teams. The tournament follows clear rules for team selection, match format, scoring, and prize distribution. By using a team-based model, the league presents professional chess in a more organised and accessible way for a global audience.
Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL) 2026
The third season of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League is being held at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai. The venue is one of India’s most well-known cultural landmarks and has been selected to host all league matches for this season.
Rules for team selection:
- Total six Players per team
- At least two women players
- At least one junior player (born in 2003 or later)
- Fixed board order throughout the tournament
Participating Teams
Complete Team Squads (This Season)
PBG Alaskan Knights
Alpine SG Pipers
Fyers American Gambits
Triveni Continental Kings
Ganges Grandmasters
Team Composition Rules
Each team follows a fixed board order:
- Board 1: Icon player (highest-rated player)
- Boards 2 & 3: Two male players
- Boards 4 & 5: Two female players
- Board 6: One junior player
Once set, this order cannot be changed during the tournament.
Tournament Format of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League
The league is played in two stages.
Preliminary Stage
- Double round-robin format
- Each team plays every other team twice
- Six games are played per match (one per board)
The top two teams qualify for the Final.
Final Stage
- Played between the top two teams
- Best-of-two match format
- Team with the most match points becomes the champion
Team Composition Rules
- 20 minutes per player for the full game
- 2-second increment from move 41 onward
This ensures fast, exciting games while keeping quality high.
Scoring System
Game Points (per game)
- Win with Black: 4 points
- Win with White: 3 points
- Draw: 1 point
- Loss: 0 points
The team with the most total game points wins the match.
Match Points (for standings)
- Match win: 3 points
- Match draw: 1 point
- Match loss: 0 points
Match points decide league standings in the Preliminary Stage.
Schedule
The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League takes place from December 14 to December 23 2025.
Prize Money Structure
The total prize fund is $1,000,000.
Prize distribution:
- $500,000 based on final team standings
- $450,000 based on total Game Points scored
- $50,000 additional prize for the champion team
Game Point prizes are calculated by dividing a team’s total game points by the total game points scored by all teams and multiplying the result by $450,000.
History of the League
The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League was started as a team-based chess tournament. Its main aim was to organise professional chess in a structured league format with clear rules. The league uses fixed teams, mixed-gender line-ups, and shorter time controls. These features help keep the tournament consistent and easier to follow compared to traditional individual chess events.
The tournament has completed more than one season. Over time, the organisers have improved the format, scoring system, and prize distribution. As a result, the league has become more stable and organised with each new edition.
Previous Winners
Since its launch, the league has seen strong performances from certain teams.
In 2023, the Triveni Continental Kings won the title, finishing ahead of the upGrad Mumba Masters in the final standings. In 2024, the Triveni Continental Kings successfully defended their title. They finished as champions once again, with the PBG Alaskan Knights ending the season as runners-up.
These results highlight the importance of team balance, planning, and consistency in the Global Chess League format.
Several major chess events are scheduled in the coming years across different formats and age groups. This includes international and domestic chess tournaments in India in 2026, along with other global events. Readers who want details about chess tournaments in 2026 worldwide, such as dates, locations, and formats, can explore dedicated tournament calendars that cover these events in detail.
