Ganga Grandmasters Secure Second Place by Defeating American Gambits in Global Chess League

Bengaluru, September 6 (Daily Kiran) : The Ganga Grandmasters made a significant impact in the Global Chess League (GCL) on Sunday in Bengaluru, halting the winning streak of the American Gambits. Meanwhile, the reigning champions, Alpine APL Pipers, celebrated their second consecutive victory.

After facing a setback against the Pipers earlier in the day, the Ganga Grandmasters bounced back to defeat the Gambits 9-7, securing the second spot in the standings. In their earlier match, the Pipers had triumphed over the Grandmasters with an 11-6 score.

The second day of GCL Season 4 was a treat for fans, showcasing thrilling matches and impressive victories. Despite a strong performance from Nihal, who contributed to the Gambits’ lead, it wasn’t enough. Polina Shuvalova, named ‘Player of the Match,’ secured her third win in three rounds by defeating Bibisara Assaubayeva.

Ian Nepomniachtchi turned the tide for his team in a rook-pawn endgame against 2026 Candidates winner Javokhir Sindarov. Although Gambits’ Daniil Dubov could not convert his advantage into a win against Linier Dominguez Perez, the game extended to an intense 101 moves.

Earlier, Vidit Gujrathi and Koneru Humpy notched their second consecutive wins with the black pieces, propelling the Pipers into a strong position. However, Women’s World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh faced another defeat. Vidit capitalized on a slight mistake by Linier to win in 38 moves, while Humpy showcased her skills by defeating Stavroula Tsolakidou in 41 moves.

Despite Divya’s loss, the Ganga Grandmasters had a chance to reduce the deficit when Ian Nepomniachtchi maintained a clear advantage against Magnus Carlsen in an endgame. However, the Norwegian player, often referred to as the ‘King of Endgames,’ managed to secure a draw after exchanging queens.

Later, the PBG Alaskan Knights climbed to fourth place, with Arjun Erigaisi, ‘Player of the Match’ Nino Batsiashvili, and Abhimanyu Mishra winning their matches against the Mumba Masters. Fifteen-year-old Yagiz Kan Erdogmus appeared to be in a strong position against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov but ultimately succumbed to time pressure, losing after 82 moves.