The fourth season of the Global Chess League returns to Bengaluru from September 5 to 13, 2026, bringing together the world's top chess stars under a franchise-based team format.3

Six franchises compete this season, featuring fresh team combinations, debutants and rivalries, with stars including Magnus Carlsen, Javokhir Sindarov and Viswanathan Anand among the headline names.2

How the format works

Each match features six boards: one Icon, two Superstar Men, two Superstar Women, and one Prodigy.1

Every board carries equal weight toward the team's overall score, so no single star's result counts more than another's.1

The time control is 20 minutes per player, with a 2-second increment added starting from move 41.1

Where to watch

All matches from this season are available for free on the official Tech Mahindra Global Chess League YouTube channel.1

The nine-day live broadcast, along with photography and videography for the event, is being produced by 8Bit Creatives, marking a new crossover between gaming, esports and traditional sports coverage for the league.5

Opening day results

On opening day, the team known as the American Gambits won both of their matches.

The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League's fourth season is continuing its franchise-based format, which combines elite male and female players on the same rosters.

Star names to watch

Vishy Anand, one of India's most recognized chess figures, appeared alongside Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, in coverage previewing the season.2

Magnus Carlsen, Javokhir Sindarov and Vishy Anand are among the players highlighted as the season's biggest draws, with the preview describing a "complete look at every squad, their strengths" heading into the event.2

Coverage from The Week in Chess, a long-running chess news service run by Mark Crowther, also flagged Firouzja, Sindarov, Carlsen and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL) as star names featured this season.3

What to watch next

With six franchises and matches running daily through September 13, 2026, the team standings will keep shifting as more boards are decided each day.3

Fans wanting to follow the equal-weighted board scoring system can track how Icon, Superstar and Prodigy results combine to decide each match outcome as the tournament progresses.1

Sources