DUBAI: The world’s largest and first franchise-based chess league — Global Chess League — will be held here in association with Dubai Sports Council.
The first edition will be held from June 21 to July 2.
Talking about hosting the inaugural edition, Saeed Hareb, Secretary General, Dubai Sports Council, said, “Hosting the Global Chess League is a momentous occasion for us. FIDE and Tech Mahindra’s vision for the league will truly bring the sport of chess to a new audience and help existing fans relate to the sport more than ever before.”
The Global Chess League will draw the world’s attention to a new chess format and create an ecosystem for the sport, providing a platform for champions worldwide to showcase the potential of chess.
Viswanathan Anand, five-time world chess champion, and Deputy President, FIDE, said, “Dubai has been attracting various sporting events. The World Chess Championship in Dubai in 2021 during the Dubai Expo was a big success. Similarly, I believe the Global Chess League will mark a new beginning in fan experience. Its unique team format will contribute to the growth and development of chess.”
It will feature six teams with six players each, including a minimum of two female players and one icon player per team.
The six teams will compete in a round-robin format where each team will play 10 matches.
FIDE President, Arkady Dvorkovich, said, “We are excited to announce our partnership with Dubai Sports Council to host the inaugural edition of Global Chess League in Dubai. This city has established itself as a world-class events destination, and among many other major sporting events, it has hosted the FIDE World Championship Match 2021.”
Each match will feature six boards that will be played simultaneously. The top two teams will qualify for the final on July 2, 2023, and be crowned the World Champion Franchise Team.
