Indian esports icon and S8UL co-founder Naman “Mortal” Mathur applauded the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League’s (GCL) blend of elite competition, entertainment and fan engagement, saying the franchise-based competition has not only reinvented the way chess is experienced by audiences but also attracted newer fans.
The fourth season is being played in Bengaluru from September 5 to 13. GCL has introduced several innovations over the course of its four seasons to engage with fans at the venue and those following the league online. Because it made the audience feel involved in the competition and built strong communities around players and teams, esports evolved.
“What I found exciting was how the league brings chess and entertainment together. The Global Chess League features six franchises competing in a rapid, team-based format comprising male and female players as well as emerging prodigies. This year, team managers and captains have been given heart-rate monitors to provide a glimpse into their stress levels, while fans also have the option of following individual players in addition to the general stream. “My support will be with Nihal and Pranesh, but if I have to predict the champions, I would go with Alpine APL Pipers. They are the defending champions and the addition of Magnus makes them an extremely strong team,” he added.
GCL has the potential to do something similar for chess and introduce the game to a completely new generation of fans,” said Mortal, one of the most recognisable personalities in Indian gaming. He also made the ceremonial first move in the match between defending champions Alpine APL Pipers and Ganges Grandmasters on Sunday.
