In a thrilling conclusion to the third season, the Alpine SG Pipers were crowned champions of the Global Chess League (GCL). The team's victory was sealed in Mumbai, followed by a unique, celebratory spectacle reminiscent of Formula 1 podium finishes.
Champagne & Fireworks: A Mumbai Balcony Celebration
Within an hour of their coronation, the triumphant Alpine SG Pipers squad ascended the ornate balcony of Mumbai's historic Royal Opera House. Their mission: a final, fan-focused flourish. The celebration featured fireworks and an unexpected twist—three champagne bottles were distributed for the players to spray into the enthusiastic crowd below.
Initially, Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, alongside Leon Luke Mendonca and Anish Giri, appeared hesitant. The task of popping the corks was then passed to American star Fabiano Caruana, Nino Batshiashvili, and the team manager. After a minute-long struggle with the bottles, a gentle spray finally showered the fans, capping off the public festivities.
From Camaraderie to Rivalry: The Card Games That Forged a Champion
The path to victory was not smooth for the Pipers. The team, boasting top-tier talents like Caruana, Giri, and Praggnanandhaa, started the season with two consecutive defeats. Praggnanandhaa himself admitted their early performance was 'shaky', and their chances of reaching the final seemed slim until recently.
The turning point, surprisingly, came not from intense chess analysis but from nightly card games. The team's social glue was an inspired idea from the squad's 'prodigy' player, Leon Luke Mendonca. He introduced a card game called 'Kabootar' around the fourth round, which became a nightly ritual in the hotel lobby.
"We had a lot of time on our hands, so we had to do something," Praggnanandhaa chuckled in a conversation, revealing they eventually grew annoyed with Kabootar's endless nature and switched to another game called Avalon. These sessions built a remarkable team spirit, allowing the players to bond beyond the board.
A United Front Before the Ultimate Chess Battle
The camaraderie fostered by these games was so strong that by the time of the final, the players were comfortable discussing general opening ideas with each other. This was notable given the elephant in the room: Caruana, Giri, and Praggnanandhaa are all set to be fierce rivals at the upcoming Candidates tournament in March, competing for a shot at the world championship against D Gukesh.
"Not too deep, of course, we are all going to play in the Candidates," Praggnanandhaa clarified. "But generally we were having a lot of fun with the team. That's one of the main reasons we won; we had really good team spirit."
Following the balcony celebrations, the Pipers departed for their team hotel. For most, the night meant packing for an immediate flight to Qatar for the World Rapid and Blitz Championship. The memories of champagne, card games, and shared jokes will soon be set aside, replaced by singular focus on the cut-throat competition of the Candidates—the most important tournament of their careers.
