The player draft for Season 4 of the Global Chess League (GCL) produced plenty of excitement on Monday, with Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin emerging as one of the most sought-after players. After a bidding battle, Sarin was signed by American Gambits, adding further strength to a team already featuring 2026 Candidates champion Javokhir Sindarov. The fourth edition of the franchise-based league will be held in Bengaluru from September 3 to 13 and will feature some of the world’s top chess stars.After being named MVP in Season 2, Sarin, who has qualified for the Esports World Cup and will also represent India in the Esports Nations Cup later this year, became one of the headline picks of the draft. American Gambits secured the 22-year-old after intense competition and assembled a youthful squad that also includes Daniil Dubov, Sara Khadem, Bibisara Assaubayeva and Marc’Andria Maurizzi.Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers retained Norwegian superstar Magnus Carlsen and added Women’s Chess World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh, Indian veteran Koneru Humpy, Vidit Gujrathi and reigning World Rapid champion Volodar Murzin to bolster their title defence.In one of the biggest moves of the draft, Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand switched teams for the first time in Global Chess League history, joining PBG Alaskan Knights alongside Arjun Erigaisi. The franchise also added young Turkish talent Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus and Nino Batsiashvili.Meanwhile, Ganges Grandmasters signed Ian Nepomniachtchi and brought back Levon Aronian after a two-season absence, while Triveni Continental Kings retained Alireza Firouzja and strengthened their squad with Aravindh Chithambaram and Pranav Venkatesh. Mumba Masters also retained much of their successful core as the six teams finalised their squads for the upcoming season.
Global Chess League Season 4 Full Squads:
- American Gambits: Javokhir Sindarov, Nihal Sarin, Daniil Dubov, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Sara Khadem, Marc’Andria Maurizzi.
- APL Pipers: Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, Volodar Murzin.
- Ganges Grandmasters: Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian, Leinier Dominguez, Polina Shuvalova, Stavroula Tsolakidou, Leon Luke Mendonca.
- Mumba Masters: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Vladimir Fedoseev, Carissa Yip, Harika Dronavalli, Bardiya Daneshvar.
- Alaskan Knights: Viswanathan Anand, Arjun Erigaisi, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Kateryna Lagno, Nino Batsiashvili, Abhimanyu Mishra.
- Triveni Continental Kings: Alireza Firouzja, Wei Yi, Aravindh Chithambaram, Zhu Jiner, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Pranav Venkatesh.
