Global Chess League 2024 Teams and Line-ups Announced

The Global Chess League is set to return for its second season this October, and the excitement is already building as the teams have been finalized. GM Hikaru Nakamura will be leading the new American Gambits team, joining other iconic players such as Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and debutant Anish Giri.

The league, which will take place in London this year, will feature six franchise teams competing in rapid chess over ten rounds of action. With $1 million up for grabs, the stakes are high and the competition is expected to be fierce.

Each team underwent a player draft in Delhi, with big changes in the line-ups compared to the previous season. Notable teams include the Alpine SG Pipers led by Magnus Carlsen, the Ganges Grandmasters captained by Viswanathan Anand, and the Mumba Masters with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave at the helm.

The reigning champions, the Triveni Continental Kings, will see Chinese star Wei Yi as the only player with a chance to become a two-time champion, as Levon Aronian is likely to be competing in the U.S. Chess Championship instead.

The American Gambits, a new team for 2024, will feature Nakamura as their Icon player, with the team co-owned by Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin. Despite the team name, Nakamura is the only American player on the roster.

With the full line-ups now known, fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the Global Chess League in October. Who will emerge victorious this year? Stay tuned to find out.