Mumbai GCL finale beckons after Firouzja’s hot streak
The Global Chess League, a Tech Mahindra and FIDE-backed franchise competition, is being staged in Mumbai in mid-December as chess’s mixed-gender, mixed-age experiment builds toward its title decider. Designed like a modern arena show with walk-ons, lights and multilingual coverage, the league is chasing a big goal: turn the sport’s online boom into a lasting, commercial season.
Triveni Continental Kings have again been driven by Alireza Firouzja, the 22-year-old French star who ripped through his first five games in Mumbai, toppling Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh Dommaraju, Hikaru Nakamura, Viswanathan Anand and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. “In this format you can’t hide—you have to take chances,” Firouzja said, pointing to the scoring that rewards wins, especially with Black.
After clock dramas in London, organisers adjusted the time control in Mumbai to steady the late-game chaos. “We want drama, not disorder,” a league official said.
The double-round final pits Triveni against Alpine SG Pipers on Tuesday, with the outcome still wide open.