Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Global Chess League 2026 Sets Bengaluru Season Four Schedule
The Global Chess League is a team chess competition.
Its fourth season will be held in Bengaluru from September 5 to 13.
Six teams will play fast, or rapid, chess games.
They will first face each other in a double round-robin stage.
The top teams will then play a best-of-two final.
The winner will share a tournament prize pool worth $1 million.
Magnus Carlsen is returning to defend Alpine APL Pipers’ title.
Several famous players will participate, but D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa are sitting out because of the nearby Olympiad.
The fourth Tech Mahindra Global Chess League season runs from September 5 to 13 in Bengaluru.
Six franchises will compete in a nine-day rapid tournament with a $1 million prize pool.
The teams will play a double round-robin stage before a best-of-two final.
Magnus Carlsen returns to defend Alpine APL Pipers’ title after missing last season.
D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa will not compete because the Olympiad begins two days after the final.
- Who
- Six franchises, including Alpine APL Pipers and Fyers American Gambits, will compete, featuring players such as Magnus Carlsen, Javokhir Sindarov and Viswanathan Anand.
- What
- The fourth Tech Mahindra Global Chess League will be played as a nine-day rapid team tournament with a double round-robin stage and a best-of-two final.
- When
- September 5 to 13, 2026.
- Where
- The Lalit Ashok in Bengaluru.
- Why
- The league is holding its fourth season; D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa are opting out because the Olympiad begins two days after the final.
- Season
- Fourth season of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League
- Dates
- September 5–13, 2026
- Location
- The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru
- Teams
- Six franchises
- Format
- Double round-robin followed by a best-of-two final
- Prize pool
- $1 million
- Defending champion
- Alpine APL Pipers