Global Chess League Announces Icon Players for Second Season in London

The Global Chess League is gearing up for its highly anticipated second season in London, and the list of Icon players has been revealed, promising an exciting lineup of top chess talent. World number one Magnus Carlsen will be returning to represent Alpine SG Piper, alongside new Icon players Hikaru Nakamura for the American Gambits and Anish Giri for PBG Alaskan Knights.

The league, a collaboration between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, will see the likes of Viswanathan Anand for Ganges Grandmasters and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave for Mumba Masters making a comeback, while Ian Nepomniachtchi will headline as the icon player for Triveni Continental Kings.

CEO of the Global Chess League, Sameer Pathak, expressed excitement about the star-studded lineup, stating, “With such celebrated names leading the teams, we anticipate thrilling matches that will captivate millions of chess fans.”

Magnus Carlsen, who expressed his eagerness to compete again with Alpine SG Pipers, and Nakamura, thrilled to join the American Gambits, both praised the league’s unique team format. Anish Giri and Viswanathan Anand also shared their excitement about the upcoming season, highlighting the league’s popularity and competitive format.

The league will feature six teams, each with a mix of top male and female players, as well as a prodigy player. Fans can expect a minimum of three marquee showdowns daily, promising intense battles on the chessboard.

As the countdown to the second season begins, chess enthusiasts around the world are eagerly awaiting the start of the Global Chess League in London. Stay tuned for more updates on the draft and additional superstar players set to join the league.