Tech Mahindra GCL 2025 Day 1: Fiery Firouzja scorches Caruana
The two-time reigning and defending champion, Triveni Continental Kings started the day with a 9-7 victory over Alpine SG Pipers in Round 1 of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2025. Alireza Firouzja (TCK) and Wei Yi (TCK) scored the wins for the team against Fabiano Caruana (ASGP) and Anish Giri (ASGP) respectively. The All-Indian clash between Vidit Gujrathi (TCK) and R Praggnanandhaa (ASGP) was a well-contested draw. Leon Luke Mendonca (ASGP) split the point with Marc` Andria Maurizzi (TCK). Ganges Grandmasters got drowned by upGrad Mumba Masters by 4-17, a loss by huge margin. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (uMM), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (uMM), Harika Dronavalli (uMM) and Bardiya Daneshvar (uMM) scored the wins for their team. PBG Alaskan Knights lost to Fyers American Gambits by 5-8. Round 2 starts today at 5 p.m. IST starting with Fyers American Gambits vs upGrad Mumba Masters. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy
Triveni Continental Kings makes a winning start
The first day witnessed a few exciting games. The highly anticipated clash between the World Fischer Random champion, Hikaru Nakamura and the reigning World Champion, D Gukesh ended in a draw. Use code CBIGCL to get 20% Off when you buy tickets on District. Link is at the end of the article.
Match #1: Triveni Continental Kings - Alpine SG Pipers: 3-0 (9-7)
Alireza Firouzja (TCK) and Wei Yi (TCK) scored the wins over Fabiano Caruana (ASGP) and Anish Giri (ASGP); Vidit Gujrathi (TCK), GM Jiner Zhu (TCK) and Marc` Andria Maurizzi (TCK) drew against R Praggnanandhaa (ASGP), GM Yifan Hou (ASGP) and Leon Luke Mendonca (ASGP) respectively. GM Nino Batsiashvili (ASGP) scored the lone win for Alpine SG Pipers against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (TCK).
Firouzja - Caruana
Caruana made the mistake of provoking an attacking player like Firouzja with a mistake of 19...b4?? White pounced on the opportunity 20.hxg6!+- bxc3 21.gxf7+ Kxf7 22.Qg2 e5 23.Rhg1 exf4 24.Qxg7+ Ke6 25.Qg6 fxe3 26.Qf5+ Kf7 27.Rg6 Qe7 28.Rdg1 Bxe4 29.Rg7+ Ke8 30.Rxe7+ Kxe7 31.Rg7+ Ke8 32.Qe6+ and it's over as checkmate is unstoppable.
Replay TCK - ASGP games
Match #2: Ganges Grandmasters - upGrad Mumba Masters: 0-3 (4-17)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (uMM), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (uMM), Harika Dronavalli (uMM) and Bardiya Daneshvar (uMM) scored the wins for their team against Vishy Anand (GG), Javokhir Sindarov (GG), IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (GG) and Raunak Sadhwani (GG) respectively.
Anand - Vachier-Lagrave
25.Qf5?? was an unforced error. 25...g6!-+ 26.Nf6+ Kg7 27.Nxe8+ Rxe8 28.Qc2 Nxg2 29.Re2 Qc8 30.f3 Nh4 31.Re3 Nxf3+ 32.Rxf3 Bxf3 33.Bxf7 Kxf7 34.Rf1 and it's over.
Sindarov - Mamedyarov
FIDE World Cup 2025 winner, Javokhir Sindarov's (GG) ambitious attack on the kingside 30.Nxh6+?? did not work out against the World Rapid 2013 champion, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (uMM). 30...gxh6 31.Qxh6 Qe8 32.Nf5 Qf8 33.Bxe5 Bxe5 34.fxe4?? Qxh6 35.Nxh6+ Kf8 and Black went on to win the game.
Replay GG - uMM games
Match #3: PBG Alaskan Knights - Fyers American Gambits: 0-3 (5-8)
European Individual Women 2025 champion, IM Teodora Injac (FAG) scored the sole win of the match against IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (PBG AK). The remaining four games ended in draws including the highly anticipated battle between Hikaru Nakamura (FAG) and the reigning World Champion, D Gukesh (PBG AK).
Replay PBG AK - FAG games
For more Match #1, #2 and #3 photos, please click on the respective links.
Replay live stream
Replay Round 1 games
Standings after Day 1
Day 2 matches
Match #4: Fyers American Gambits vs upGrad Mumba Masters - 5 p.m. IST.
Match #5: Alpine SG Pipers vs Ganges Grandmasters - 6:30 p.m. IST.
Match #6: PBG Alaskan Knights vs Triveni Continental Kings - 8 p.m. IST.
Scoring System for Game Points (GP)
4 GP (3+1) | A player wins the Game with Black Pieces |
3 GP | A player wins the Game with White Pieces |
1 GP | Draw |
0 GP | Defeat |
Scoring System for Match Points (MP)
3 MP | The team that scores more Game Points |
1 MP | If both teams are level on Game Points |
0 MP | The team that scores lesser Game Points than the opponent |
Links
Tech Mahindra Global Chess League: Official site, facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube and linkedin
Tech Mahindra: Official site, facebook, twitter, youtube and linkedin
