Mumbai witnessed high drama as the Global Chess League (GCL) 2025 Player Draft unveiled its third season with a flurry of blockbuster signings. For the first time, the world’s premier franchise-based chess tournament comes home to India—where both the game and the league were born—set to unfold at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai, from December 13–24, 2025.
The big headline? PBG Alaskan Knights pulled off the coup of the day by signing India’s golden pair, Dommaraju Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi. Meanwhile, American Grandmaster Wesley So sparked a fierce bidding war before joining upGrad Mumba Masters, in what became one of the most talked-about moments of the draft.
Building on its Dubai (2023) and London (2024) editions, Season 3 marks a new era of GCL in India, with six franchises assembling power-packed rosters across Icon, Superstar Women, and Emerging Talent rounds.
Icon Round: Big Names, Bigger Stakes
The draft opened with Fabiano Caruana snapped up by Alpine SG Pipers, while Viswanathan Anand stayed with Ganges Grandmasters. The Knights locked in Gukesh, a move that electrified the crowd.
Peeyush Dubey, Chairperson, Global Chess League, said: “Bringing GCL to India is historic—India is chess’s birthplace and its fastest-growing market. Season 3 will be spectacular.”
High Drama with Wesley So
The fiercest tug-of-war of the day came when Wesley So was hotly contested by three teams. Ultimately, upGrad Mumba Masters won the battle, adding him to their retained trio of Harika Dronavalli, Koneru Humpy, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
Suhail Chandhok, CEO, upGrad Mumba Masters, noted: “We wanted to keep our core intact and add a superstar. Wesley So was our top pick.”
India’s Power Pair & Rising Stars
The Knights didn’t just grab Gukesh—they sealed Arjun Erigaisi too, forming a dream pairing. Coach Abhijit Kunte said: “It’s happening in India, and Gukesh-Arjun will delight the fans.”
Elsewhere, Ganges Grandmasters secured Vincent Keymer, while American Gambits retained Hikaru Nakamura, keeping their superstar firepower intact.
Shrinath Narayanan, Head Coach, American Gambits, said: “Drafts are like chess on a larger board—dynamic and uncertain. We’re glad it’s all happening in India.”
Superstar Women & Final Flourishes
The Superstar Women round saw Zhu Jiner join Triveni Continental Kings and Kateryna Lagno move to the Knights. Reigning champions Triveni retained Alireza Firouzja, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Wei Yi, strengthening their title defense.
Akash Premsen, CEO, Triveni Continental Kings, remarked: “Our strategy is to combine competitiveness with team harmony—it’s as much about psychology as it is about moves.”
In the final round, prodigies Raunak Sadhwani (Ganges), Volodar Murzin (American Gambits), and Leon Mendonca (Alpine SG Pipers) joined the fray.
Pravin Thipsay, Head Coach, Alpine SG Pipers, said: “Balance matters most—Caruana, Pragg, and Hou Yifan give us strength across the board.”
Vishnu Prasad, Head Coach, Ganges Grandmasters, added: “We wanted a young team—and we’ve built one.”
What’s Next for GCL Season 3
The league will run on a double round-robin format with 10 matches per team across six boards. Adding to the excitement, GCL Contenders 2025 will give rising players from six time zones the chance to break into the league alongside Grandmasters—a world-first in franchise chess.
From blockbuster drafts to global icons, GCL Season 3 is set to transform Mumbai into the epicenter of world chess this December. The stage is set, the stars are ready, and India is primed to host the most spectacular edition of the Global Chess League yet.
GCL Season 3 Squads
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, Harika Dronavalli, Bardiya Daneshvar
PBG Alaskan Knights: Gukesh D, 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
