In an electrifying turn of events for the upcoming third season of the Global Chess League (GCL-3), PBG Alaskan Knights has truly made a strategic masterpiece! They’ve successfully secured the reigning World Champion, Gukesh D, alongside the formidable Arjun Erigasi, who famously bested chess legend Magnus Carlsen earlier this year. This dynamic duo will now be playing side-by-side from December 13th, promising an exhilarating season.
The player draft, held recently in Mumbai, officially unveiled a stellar roster packed with grandmasters from around the globe, both male and female, all set to compete in this high-stakes event.
With Magnus Carlsen opting out this season, the Knights were on the hunt for a standout star. Gukesh proved to be the perfect marquee signing, bringing immense prestige and skill to the team. Arjun’s addition, a player known for his aggressive style and recent victory over Carlsen, truly was the “icing on the cake” for the Alaskan Knights.
GM Abhijit Kunte, coach for the Knights, expressed his delight: “We faced a significant challenge in selecting all six players, and we are absolutely thrilled to have secured World Champion Gukesh, along with assembling a well-balanced team. We are confident that Gukesh and Arjun will deliver captivating performances for the fans. With the league happening right here in India, their presence is sure to ignite even greater enthusiasm for our team!”
The other teams have also built impressive squads. The Ganges Grandmasters feature the iconic GM Viswanathan Anand as their marquee player, while the brilliant R. Praggnanandhaa will be leading the American Gambits.
Here’s a look at the full lineups:
American Gambits: Hikaru Nakamura, Richard Rapport, Vladislav Artemiev, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Teodora Injac, Volodar Murzin.
Alpine SG Pipers: Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa R., Anish Giri, Hou Yifan, Nino Batsiashvili, Leon Mendonca.
Ganges Grandmasters: Viswanathan Anand, Javokhir Sindarov, Vincent Keymer, Stavroula Tsolakidou, Polina Shuvalova, Raunak Sadhwani.
upGrad Mumba Masters: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Wesley So, Koneru Humpy, D. Harika, Bardiya Daneshvar.
PBG Alaskan Knights: Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Leinier Dominguez, Sara Khadem, Kateryna Lagno, Daniel Dardha.
Triveni Continental Kings: Alireza Firouzja, Yi Wei, Vidit Gujrathi, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Zhu Jiner, Marc’Andria Maurizzi.