The world of elite chess is witnessing a fascinating paradox of camaraderie and concealed rivalry. Three of the world's top grandmasters – India's R Praggnanandhaa, the Netherlands' Anish Giri, and America's Fabiano Caruana – are currently teammates fighting for the Alpine SG Pipers in the ongoing Global Chess League (GCL). Yet, in a dramatic shift of roles, they will transform into direct adversaries in just a few months, competing for the ultimate prize in the Candidates Tournament.
The Poker Game of Preparation
This unique situation has created an atmosphere of friendly yet guarded interaction, which Anish Giri aptly describes as a high-stakes poker game. The eight-man Candidates Tournament, scheduled from March 28 to April 16, 2025, is the gruelling qualifier for the World Championship match, where only the winner progresses. In such a high-pressure environment, every piece of preparation is a closely guarded secret.
"It's like playing poker. You have the cards, but you both show one card each," Giri explained, highlighting the delicate balance. He noted that with players of their calibre, who invest heavily in engine-assisted preparation, every casual comment or shared analysis is scrutinized. "Every single word that one of us drops to each other is like vital information. I know that he knows that I know the situation," Giri added, describing the multi-layered psychological dynamic within the team.
Navigating the "Elephant in the Room"
Despite the looming competition, the atmosphere within the Alpine SG Pipers camp is not one of animosity. Fabiano Caruana was quick to dismiss any notion of enmity. "We're certainly not enemies or anything like that. There's no animosity at all," Caruana stated. He compared it to a normal professional environment where colleagues might also be rivals. Since they are not playing against each other in the GCL, they are actively rooting for one another's success for their franchise.
However, Caruana admitted to a necessary veil of secrecy. "All three of us playing in the Candidates means that we can't share quite as much with each other... I can't exactly say what openings I'm working on. You still want to keep things a little bit close to the chest." This sentiment underscores the professional boundary they must maintain while sharing a team bench until the GCL concludes on December 23.
A Rare Kinship Amidst Rivalry
Interestingly, this peculiar scenario has also fostered a strange sense of kinship. Giri pointed out that while they are future rivals, they currently share a unique common ground that almost no one else in the world can relate to. They engage in what he calls "weird conversational dances" – they might discuss an endgame position but carefully avoid revealing the opening lines that lead to it.
"This is such a rare opportunity to talk to someone who is so much like you, and who is in a situation so much like yours," Giri reflected. He emphasized that while he can talk to his coaches about preparation, they don't occupy the same mental space as a fellow Candidates contender. Discussing the immense pressure and specific challenges with Caruana or Praggnanandhaa provides an understanding that is unparalleled.
For the young Indian prodigy Praggnanandhaa, the focus remains squarely on the present. Having secured his Candidates spot relatively recently, he claims not to have started serious preparation for the March event. "We are discussing things normally. I'm enjoying my time. I think it's the same for others," Praggnanandhaa said, indicating a more relaxed approach for now. He plans to shift his focus to the Candidates only after completing his current tournament commitments.
The Road to the World Championship
The Candidates Tournament represents the pinnacle of competitive pressure in chess. Unlike a World Championship match, which is a deep dive into one opponent's psyche and repertoire, the Candidates is a brutal marathon against seven other elite players, each armed with novel and dangerous preparations. It is a test of endurance, versatility, and mental fortitude where a single stumble can end a two-year quest for the crown.
The journey of these three Alpine SG Pipers teammates – Praggnanandhaa, Giri, and Caruana – encapsulates this duality of sport. For now, they wear the same colourful jersey, strategizing together for the GCL title. Soon, they will don their classic formal suits, sitting across the board as opponents in the most important tournament of their careers. Their current alliance is a brief, collaborative interlude in a much longer narrative of individual ambition, making their interactions in the Global Chess League a captivating prelude to the drama of the Candidates.
