LONDON: With just a little over a week left for the start of the second season of the Global Chess League, Indian chess Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, who will compete for PBG Alaska Knights, said the league is building infrastructure and solid schedules for fans to enjoy.
The second season will take place in London between October 3 and 12 and Nihal, who will return as Prodigy this year, said he likes the unpredictable nature of the tournament. “I am quite excited to be back for the tournament, especially considering how everything went last year. This year all the top players are also playing, and so, I am looking forward to it,” the 20-year-old said. He said, “The Global Chess League is an interesting concept because the team format means that sometimes we have to play keeping in mind our chances on other boards. Those dynamics are always complex, and point scoring depends on the team’s strategy. No one can predict how it will turn out, which makes it exciting.”
In its first season, the Global Chess League revolutionized the sport with its unique team format. The first-of-its-kind franchise-based league features a total of six teams, with each team having six players – one icon player, two superstar male players, two superstar female players, and one prodigy in each team. “This year my goal is to fulfill my team’s board requirement to the best of my abilities. The scoring system in this league invites a change in style in different colours, making it even more exciting. Plans keep evolving.
Even though it is difficult to track other games, I try to learn a few things from some of the moves made by the players to get an idea of what is going on,” Nihal discussed his strategy for the upcoming season in depth. The first season of the Global Chess League in Dubai captured the imagination of chess fans around the world. It drew the attention of people from all over the world to the sport, with its lively commentary set-up and dynamic visual elements. Nihal said that the league is making the game exciting for fans.
“I think the fan base we have built around chess is ultimately the reason to play this sport. People are now watching your moves and finding enjoyment and entertainment- something that has never happened with chess apart from Viswanathan Anand’s World Championship matches and the Indian team’s performance at the Olympiads. This league is building infrastructure for fans and setting up solid events for fans to enjoy.”
Addressing his excitement about returning to London for the league, Nihal said he is looking forward to experiencing the city’s chess heritage once again. “London has a rich cultural history. I have played in the city a few times before – the history, the people and the weather are all amazing. It will definitely be fun. The chess heritage will definitely be something I would love to experience again,” he said.
(IANS)
