In a thrilling display of resilience, the Alaskan Knights secured their first victory of the Global Chess League (GCL) season, powered by Indian stars Dommaraju Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi. The dramatic turnaround came on Thursday at Mumbai's Royal Opera House, marking the league's halfway point. Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja's flawless performance propelled the defending champions, Triveni Continental Kings, to the top of the standings.
Knights Mount Epic Comeback Against SG Pipers
Staring at a must-win situation after four consecutive losses, the Alaskan Knights rose to the occasion against SG Pipers, clinching a 12-8 victory. Winning the toss and choosing white pieces, the Knights set an aggressive tone. Arjun Erigaisi provided the early breakthrough by defeating Anish Giri on the second board.
SG Pipers fought back strongly with wins from Nino Batsiashvili and Leon Luke Mendonca, swinging the momentum. Under immense pressure, World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh delivered a masterclass, outplaying Fabiano Caruana in 39 moves. This critical win was complemented by victories from Leinier Dominguez over R Praggnanandhaa and Kateryna Lagno over Hou Yifan, sealing the match.
"It's a very special feeling to get my first win," said Gukesh after the match. He added that while the team felt in control initially, the situation became tricky, forcing him to push for a decisive result. Arjun Erigaisi, named Player of the Match, highlighted the significance of the win: "It was a special win as none of us had won any match so far and we won four today."
Firouzja's Flawless Run Kings Continental Kings
In the day's marquee clash, the Triveni Continental Kings edged past the upGrad Mumba Masters 9-5 to claim sole leadership with 12 match points. The victory was anchored by Alireza Firouzja, who maintained his perfect record in the league. Playing with the black pieces, Firouzja opted for the Najdorf Variation against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
After early advantages on other boards fizzled into draws, the match hinged on Firouzja's game. Despite time trouble, he sustained pressure and capitalized on a critical error by his opponent—a knight move to d5—forcing resignation in 52 moves. "We needed this win to take the lead after the first half... I tried to take risks. I knew it would be a close match, but as black, I would get four points, and it paid off today," stated Firouzja, who was also awarded Player of the Match.
Other Key Results and Standings
The day's third match saw the Ganges Grandmasters narrowly defeat the Fyers American Gambits 8-7, moving to third place with nine match points. In this encounter, 2025 World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov defeated Richard Rapport with black, while the icon board witnessed a draw between Viswanathan Anand and Hikaru Nakamura.
As the league reaches its midpoint, the standings see Triveni Continental Kings at the top, followed closely by their rivals. The action now shifts to Matchday 6, where the PBG Alaskan Knights will face the Fyers American Gambits before a crucial evening clash against the Triveni Continental Kings. The Kings will first open their day against Alpine SG Pipers, while the upGrad Mumba Masters are set to play the Ganges Grandmasters.
