Excitement Builds as Anish Giri Gears Up for Global Chess League Debut in London

Grandmaster Anish Giri expresses his excitement and plans ahead of his debut in the Global Chess League, set to take place from October 3 to 12 in London. The league is a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, featuring top Icon players including Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.

As anticipation grows for the second season of the Global Chess League (GCL), Grandmaster Anish Giri has shared his excitement and plans ahead of his debut at this distinctive chess event. The league, a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is set to unfold from October 3 to 12 in London.

"I am thrilled to be part of the event this year. I could not join last year due to a scheduling conflict, but I followed the finale with great excitement. Looking forward to being on the other side of the screen this time," expressed Giri, who will feature as an Icon player for the Punit Balan Group-owned PBG Alaskan Knights. He is set to compete against other Icon players, including Magnus Carlsen (Alpine SG Pipers), Hikaru Nakamura (American Gambits), Viswanathan Anand (Ganges Grandmasters), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Mumba Masters), and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Triveni Continental Kings).

"The line-up is absolutely stacked this time. My board is going to be insanely strong," acknowledged Giri. Despite the challenge, the 30-year-old Grandmaster has only one goal in mind - "winning!" "I will do my utmost best to live up to the challenge," he added.

Addressing the unique joint team format of the Global Chess League, Giri commented, "We are yet to see if the concept will take off in our sport as well as it did in cricket, but such initiatives are important to push chess to further heights, using the momentum it has gained in recent years." He further added, "I believe if we play our cards right, being part of a team will help each player shine. It can add pressure, but with positive team spirit, it turns into support."

One of the popular chess figures on social media, Giri conveyed a message to his fans ahead of his Global Chess League debut: "I am always happy to hear positive responses on my social media and anything I do on and off the board. I try to entertain others and myself. Scientific studies suggest you perform better when in a good mood." Giri also shared his off-board plans for the 10-day event in London: "I have played in London before. It is among the most spectacular cities. There will be no shortage of sightseeing options, restaurants, and places to relax."

(With inputs from agencies.)