Mumbai, Sep 26: Top Indian Grandmasters, world champion D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, will represent PBG Alaskan Knights in the upcoming Global Chess League after the duo was snapped up in a high-stakes player draft by the franchise for the third edition of the lucrative event, here on Friday.
A joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, the third edition of GCL featuring six teams will be held here from December 13 to 24.
The ‘Icon round’ set the ball rolling as Alpine SG Pipers snapped up American GM Fabiano Caruana, PBG Alaskan Knights edged out rivals to secure Gukesh, while five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand continued to be with the Ganges Grandmasters.
World No. 5 Erigaisi sparked a three-way contest with PBG Alaskan Knights prevailing in the end.
American Grandmaster Wesley So triggered fierce bidding before being snapped up by upGrad Mumba Masters. Ganges Grandmasters strengthened their roster with 20-year-old Vincent Keymer.
Ahead of the draft, four teams strengthened their sides by retaining key players. Alpine SG Pipers retained Hou Yifan and R Praggnanandhaa, while American Gambits secured Hikaru Nakamura and Bibisara Assaubayeva.
Alireza Firouzja, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Wei Yi stayed with Triveni Continental Kings following their title win last season. (PTI)
