The PBG Alaskan Knights are on a roll in the second edition of the Global Chess League. After three consecutive wins, they added a fourth to their tally on Saturday, cementing their dominance at Friends House. The Knights achieved a resounding 12-3 victory against the Ganges Grandmasters in the opening match of the third day, showcasing their unstoppable momentum.
Anish Giri, the team’s captain, drew with five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand on the Icon board, but his teammates delivered crucial wins on other boards. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov secured a victory against Parham Maghsoodloo, while Nihal Sarin, known for his prowess in speed chess, continued his winning streak with a triumph against Volodar Murzin. The Alaskan women also contributed to the team’s success. Tan Zhongyi outmaneuvered R. Vaishali, and Alina Kashlinskaya triumphed over Nurgyul Salimova.
Despite the team’s excellent performance, Giri remains cautiously optimistic. “Yes, we have won four out of four, but as we saw last year, the teams that start well may not be able to keep winning,” he told The Hindu. “It was a really good day for us.”
The Alaskan Knights maintained their lead with 12 match points, while the defending champions, Triveni Continental Kings, and the Alpine SG Pipers are hot on their heels with six points each. The SG Pipers achieved a convincing 12-4 victory against the Upgrad Mumba Masters. The Icon board clash between World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave ended in a draw, but Richard Rapport and Daniel Dardha secured wins for their team.
The Continental Kings proved too strong for the American Gambits, with Alireza Firouzja leading the charge. He secured a significant victory over Hikaru Nakamura on the Icon board. Wei Yi and Alexandra Kosteniuk also contributed with victories, securing a comfortable 15-3 win for the Kings.
The Global Chess League continues to deliver thrilling matches and intense competition. With the Alaskan Knights leading the pack, the race for the championship is likely to be a close and captivating battle.
