The Global Chess League's (GCL) inaugural edition will take place in Dubai, UAE, from June 21 to July 2 this year.
The first of it's kind, the tournament will be the first official franchise league which will see both men and women chess champions from around the world mix it up with budding prospects to taken on one another's teams.
Reigning rapid world chess champion Magnus Carlsen will be one of the icon players set to feature in the competition. During the GCL's press conference the Norwegian heaped praise on India's chess potential and how excited he is to participate with players from the country.
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Carlsen: India will soon become a leading Chess nation
The Norwegian Grandmaster stated that India is on the right path to becoming a dominant chess country. Additionally, Carlsen said he was excited he is to mix up with young Indian talent.
"I think India is doing a lot of right things so far, and it is a matter of time before it is clearly the leading chess nation in the world. Personally I very much enjoy team events and the team spirit within the group. So, it is something I always look forward to. I am looking forward to meeting the other players in the team, and I look forward to competing with and against the exciting young generation of Indian players. One of the really good things about this tournament is that men and women can compete against each other at the same stage," said Carlsen.
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What is the GCL format?
The GCL will see six teams compete against one another across 10 matches, with the winner of each match being decided in a best-of-six board scoring system played simultaneously. The top two teams will qualify for the final on July 2, and be crowned the World Champion Franchise Team.
