An IPL Moment for Chess

THE INAUGURAL edition of the Global Chess League (GCL) played in Dubai between June 21 and July 2 was a success. Mixed gender teams, innovative points system, active efforts at fan engagement and most importantly the presence of the world’s best players in Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Levon Aronian, and the upcoming Indian stars, Gukesh D, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, all of it contributed in giving the league a head start. A brainchild of Anand Mahindra, the league has reasonable corporate backing and is expected to grow year-on-year prompting Magnus Carlsen to call it the “IPL moment for chess”.

Carlsen, who played for the SG Alpine Warriors who narrowly missed out on making the final, gave a thumbs-up to the league. “It has indeed added to the sport. We have never played in a team format before with players from multiple nationalities in each team and in that sense it was a first. The intensity was good and the kind of fan engagement I could see makes me feel the league will grow in future. It has been a good start and it can only get better”, said the five-time world champion.

What was fascinating to hear from Carlsen is what he had to say about the rising Indian chess stars Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi. “Each one of them is a talented player and each has a very different style of play to mine. It was good to play a few training games with them and I learnt much in the process,” said the champion.

And unlike others who always want to be politically correct, with Carlsen it is always straight talk. When I asked him about the issues of chess being a male domain and discrimination, he did not hesitate to agree. “Yes it has been the case. And we need it to change. Two of my own sisters played the sport and I wish they could do so professionally,” he argued.

With fans supporting the league in numbers in Dubai, it could easily become a feature of the annual chess calendar. Sameer Pathak, CEO of GCL, for example, is clear about the importance of fan engagement. “Fan experience is at the heart of everything at the Global Chess League. With each initiative we have tried to make the experience wholesome for the fans. Whether it was the Metaverse platform for GCL or bringing in a commentary panel of chess experts and social influencers who could break down the chess for the general public, we have always believed in keeping fans at the centre of action. Even on-ground, we had various events to ensure the fans—who are coming to watch the players—are going back with happy memories of watching the stars in action and even meeting them in person. This will remain one of the focal points of the Global Chess League in future and we will strive to make the fan experience even better,” argued Pathak.

With team owners all in it for the long haul, the league has a few positives going for it. Speaking about the vision of the SG Alpine Warriors, for example, Chief Strategy Officer Anubhav Gupta was clear that this is just the start. “We are keen to contribute to the growth story of Indian sport. Except cricket, the other sports have all struggled because of the lack of corporate support. That’s the gap we want to fill. We also bid for a WPL team and were the sixth highest bidder. Five teams were awarded the contracts. We have invested in chess and will invest in a host of other sports going forward for it will make a difference to society at large,” argues Gupta.

The league, however, will do well to see what hasn’t worked for other franchise-based efforts which have all fallen by the wayside. Except the Indian Premier League (IPL) and to a degree the Pro Kabaddi League, and now the Pro Volleyball League, a lot of these franchise-based competitions have not been able to sustain themselves. After the initial euphoria is over, things turn difficult in seasons two and three and that is when the real challenge confronts the organisers. It will be no different with GCL. The novelty, which was so very important in season one, will no longer be the key driver in season two. The innovations in format, points systems, and mixed-gender teams will all become routine. You need to continuously evolve and that’s what the organisers will have to ensure. Sustainability is key. Repeat engagement is the essence of a successful franchise competition and perhaps the most challenging of all tasks. An early start for season two will perhaps help the GCL stakeholders.

And at the root of all this is the standard of play. You need stars like Carlsen and Anand to give it their best and make for great games. The one thing that has helped IPL be what it is happens to be the standard of cricket on offer. Much more than the entertainment and glamour, it is the sport that is at the centre of IPL. Matches that have kept fans on the edge of their seats till the very last ball. And that’s where you can’t compromise. The presence of the world’s best players with each trying to outdo the other is what fans want to see. IPL is a template and GCL can be no different.

I, for one, am hopeful. Chess has seen spectacular progress since the start of the pandemic and series like The Queen’s Gambit have helped. The number of players who now play the sport has grown over the last few years and with efforts like GCL, it is only expected to grow even further in the next few. While the league aims to be truly global, it needs to identify areas from where it will be drawing its primary support. If it is Indian fans at the core of it, then at some point it must come to India to give budding team identities a push.

Making chess a spectator sport is what will drive success. That it is a participatory sport is well established. How you convert a participatory sport into a spectator sport could define the future of GCL. And that’s where players like Carlsen, who are brands in their own right, turn relevant.

To go back to Carlsen, “I am no longer concerned with the 2,900 points. Rather, I am much more focused on growing the sport in the next few years.”

This could well be the key for GCL. The drive to grow the sport from the very best could make it a global success story.

Arjun ErigaisiChess championshipGlobal LeagueGukesh DMagnus CarlsenRameshbabu Praggnanandhaa