The classical (slow) world championship remains the single most prestigious title in chess, but the events drawing new sponsorship to the game skew heavily towards rapid and blitz time controls. They are seen as more fan-friendly, and Magnus Carlsen’s stated preference for those faster events has had a strong influence too.
But organisers wishing to fashion an identity for their new events have experimented with various new formats, and team events have become a popular choice, such as the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships, and the Esports World Cup (which also has a team element). Though the games are played between individuals, the team context amplifies the significance of each game. The biennial chess Olympiad, which began in Samarkand earlier this week and runs until 27 September, is the classic example.
The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League reached its fourth edition this year, billing itself as ‘the world’s first and largest official franchise chess league’. Six teams competed for a $1 million prize fund at this year’s event, held in Bangalore. Matches were played over six boards: an ‘icon’ (such as Carlsen, or Vishy Anand), a ‘prodigy’, and two each of other top male and female players. In the final, the ‘Ganges Grandmasters’ defeated the ‘Alpine APL Pipers’, the former led by Ian Nepomniachtchi as their icon, who won a crucial game against Carlsen.
Magnus Carlsen-Ian Nepomniachtchi
Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, Sept 2026
1 Nf3 d5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 e6 4 O-O Be7 5 c4 O-O 6 d4 dxc4 7 Qa4 a6 8 Qxc4 b5 9 Qc2 Bb7 10 Bd2 Be4 11 Qc1 c6 Black would like to play Nb8-d7 and c7-c5, but 11…Nbd7 12 Ba5! is a disruption Black wishes to avoid. 12 Rd1 Nbd7 13 Bf4 Rc8 14 Nc3 Bg6 15 Ne5 Nxe5 16 dxe5 Nd5 17 e4 Nxc3! An important resource, as 18 Rxd8 can be met by Ne2+ 18 Qxc3 The position remains balanced. Black’s queenside majority compensates for the passive Bg6. Qc7 19 Rd6! Carlsen offered this sacrifice without any hesitation. c5 After 19…Bxd6 20 exd6 the strength of the passed pawn outweighs the small material deficit. 20 Rxa6 Qb7 A tempting double attack, since now 21 Rd6 can be met by Bxe4. But Carlsen soon gains the upper hand, whereas after the calm 20…c4 21 Rd6 Bh5 the position would remain balanced. 21 Qa5 Now 21…Bxe4 allows 22 Ra7! Bd8 22 Ra7 Qc6 23 Qa6 Bb6 24 Rb7 Rb8 25 Rxb8 Rxb8 26 Rd1 h6 27 Rd6 Qc7 28 Qxb5? Carlsen has played well, and here the simple 28 Be3! keeps a large advantage by restraining counterplay with c5-c4. c4 29 Qd7? (see diagram) Bxf2+!! The start of a brilliant counterattack. 30 Kxf2? Surprisingly, 30 Kf1! was the way to stay alive, e.g. 30…Qc5 31 Rc6 and the bishop will be captured under better circumstances. Rxb2+ 31 Kf1 It would take superhuman defensive powers to foresee that 31 Kg1! was a better try, e.g. Qc5+ 32 Rd4! c3 33 Qa4! and White survives, whereas with the king on f1 Black has 33…Bh5! with a decisive attack. Qc5 32 Rd2 c3 33 Rxb2 cxb2 34 Qd3 Bh5! It takes a few more moves, but the b-pawn will decide the game. 35 Bd2 Qb6 36 Qb1 Qb5+ 37 Kg1 Be2 38 a4 Qb6+ 39 Kh1 Bd3 White resigns
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