The video captures the live opening ceremony of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL) Season 4 held in Bengaluru under rainy conditions. The event features a mix of formal introductions, player interviews, and entertainment segments. Key figures include world‑class grandmasters Anish Giri, Viswanathan Anand, Magnus Carlsen, and Indian chess icon Vishwanathan Anand, as well as league organizer Anand Mahindra, magician Karan Singh, and other team members. The hosts introduce the returning and new players, discuss changes in team line‑ups, and highlight the league’s unique format that blends competitive chess with digital fan experiences, sponsor integration, and side events such as a golf day. The ceremony also showcases the back‑story of the league’s creation—Mahindra’s inspiration from comedians and a FIDE president’s endorsement—followed by a trophy reveal and a promotional “Silver Knight” bike tied to chess symbolism. Throughout, light‑hearted banter, audience interaction, and cultural references (including Hindi remarks) keep the atmosphere lively.
Chapters
Is it the first time you are holding an umbrella in any?
No, I'm from the Netherlands. I've held umbrella before.
No, no, in a tournament. In a tournament like inauguration.
Probably first time ever I hold umbrella.
You must be missing Sopiko, no? After looking at Vidit and Nidhi.
Well, I'm missing her without looking at Nidhi and Vidit.
Arjun also over here. And Abhimanyu. Sir, beginna na.
Don't cancel it. Sir, I think it will stop.
What?
During like five minutes. My hindrance are cold, sir. The guards are looking at us. Towards yeah exactly. Hello hello.
Tell the way. Get away.
You take good photos of him. It's because I am turning away. You have to hide.
Anish, you should have an optimal trading like your trading counter on the screen.
Oh trade even that yeah. No no. But they don't do clients yeah. They are not like a broker so they don't need it. They're just happy here to be.
Just something, man. Scroll through Nasdaq, nobody will know.
I'm here with the very famous Ayo Shraddha. Hello, Shraddha!
Hello!
Here we are.
The queen, first to step forward. The pod and the seat of power keeps its own square.
King.
It is my absolute pleasure to welcome our distinguished guests.
I think you'll find it's a very unique team format. I wish you the best in understanding, uh, GCL and making the most out of it. We're also happy to bring back, uh, some of the players for— that missed the past season. We've got Magnus, Levon, Daniil, Nihal, and Jan who are back, so give them a warm Round of applause. Very happy to have them back in our fold as well. And of course, a warm welcome to everybody else that's back.
I will never say never to asking questions. I have this one for Anish. Hey Anish, what's up?
Hello, thank you.
As the defending champions, you all enter this season, season 4 of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, but there's something changed. In fact, a lot has changed in the team. Is that an advantage or will the new lineup probably be a little shaky?
Yeah, our managers were quite crazy. So we won the league last season, they basically got rid of everybody else and only kept me. Yeah, which luckily we—
Do you know why?
No, I think it must be some sort of an error, miscommunication kind of situation. Happens a lot. But it's really tremendous. All teams are strong, but ours is very special this time. We have Magnus back, of course. It's Really, you know, very special for not only our team but also for the event. And I think under his great leadership and guidance, with the golf day to commence as well, we'll have a great tournament.
Are you more excited for the golf day or the tournament?
Frankly, I hope I can skip it, but the negotiations are still underway.
How to win it? What is the secret?
I think we have a very young team. And we don't have a fake relationship with each other, fake appreciation.
Okay, anything particularly that you are looking forward to?
Um, I look forward to winning for 5th time.
All right, all right.
With the youngsters, what is that one piece of advice you would give to them?
Because probably taking this tournament for the first Um, my advice is everybody's scared of you, so make it count.
All right, shots have been fired. I don't think you can start anywhere else. All right, um, all right, this team, what is the most that you're excited about with this lot? You know, with 2 youngsters and with one of the most, most experienced player in the team, that's you, how would you Advise them or suggest them for this season.
I am hoping to learn a few tips from them.
All right, looking forward to this exciting combination from this team. Javahir Sindharo, firstly welcome, and this journey that you've had in GCL, start from the Prodigy board, then the Superstar men, and then now on the Icon board, what do you have to say about it?
Yeah, what can I say? I'm building my career here. Yeah, in global chess. Yeah, yeah. In general, I've had like a very good three seasons, and I'm happy with all of my results, and hoping to play very good in this season as well.
You know, now that you're on the Icon Board, anything that you're going to do differently?
Sorry, I don't know. Answer the question.
Now that you're on the Icon Board, anything that you will do differently than you did in the past two three seasons?
No, I think you just need to play focus on your board and.
That's all.
Anybody particular you're looking forward to play?
Like many players, I'm not going to say.
All right, all the best.
I'm next to my fellow brother person from St.
Louis, so this is a home team, you know, so I'm happy to be representing our city.
Even the women players from the team are the same. So they have maintained their position. They played exceptionally well last year. Now what are y'all here to add?
First of all, good evening.
Then as for me, I also was in St. Louis once or twice, so in a way, in a way, yeah. Yeah, I guess like our lineup is just awesome. Yeah, like normally questions are— all the questions, they go to the board one, but I'll try to do my best.
All right then, the women. Y'all have done exceptionally well in the last season, looking for the same run this season as well. All the best to the team.
Hello everyone, every year GCL keeps getting bigger and what a beautiful place to have this opening ceremony, right, Tanya? Agree?
So ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome on stage Vishwanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen.
Is there anything that you think chess could borrow from another sport to make it more fun for the fans?
I, I'm not going to give you any general idea, um, great ideas because I don't have them right now, but I will say generally I think the players have a little bit of a responsibility, um, to kind of acknowledge that we are indeed entertainers, and we, we don't need to necessarily, you know, sacrifice any sporting integrity. But in general, I think the more willingness there is to, yeah, to accept that fact, the better.
Vishy, your thoughts on this?
I'd love to follow American football because if, like, you make a move, then you stop, Then you have a meeting, then you start again. I think, uh, that's something I'd like to see.
Okay, thank you so much, and we hand over the mic to Arohi.
You are not just investing your resources and effort into development of this league, you are personally present offering crucial support to your teams during the most challenging moments of the competition. Good luck to everyone and let the games begin. Thank you.
Pleasure to welcome all of you to the 4th season of Tech Mahindra Global Chess League. When we finished the 3rd season in Mumbai, uh, we had a clear goal of delivering the most compelling season yet. Uh, with season 4, we decided that we'll have a stronger digital and live experience, we will have better sponsor integration, we will have measurable growth in every aspect. Whether it is fans, whether it is viewership, and I can promise you that that is exactly what is planned over the next ten days. We are ready for that, and and we are all set for that.
He is a mentalist who has made a career out of knowing what people are thinking before they even say a word. Please welcome Karan Singh Magic.
Stick with your decision four four. You do want to change your mind?
All right, perfect.
Divya, I think you might be fun for this. Divya, if I ask you to think of any piece, color and piece.
Can we go back, please? Can we go back, please?
Can we go back? No.
I know, I know.
Someone's going to play before they actually play. I'm sure some of you can already assume what's going to happen before it happens. What piece did you think of?
Should I say it?
Yeah, say it out loud.
Okay, I thought of a black bishop.
Yes, that is chess!
That is all of you put together. I'm Karan Singh. Thank you, Angus Dodson. Thank you, all of you. You've been such a lovely audience. I'll send you back and have a lovely rest of the evening. Thank you and good night.
To its story. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for Mr. Anand Mahindra.
And I want to start with Samay, Raina, and Sagar, who is here. As Tanya said, they were streaming live during the Chess Olympiad in 2020. I was watching them. Samay is a comedian, and Magnus, like you said, he raised it to the form of entertainment. I was scared of saying that until you said it, but it was. I found it entertaining, and I saw that at every 15 minutes, the crowd of people watching grew larger. So Samay, in our online interaction, challenged me to create a global chess league. Usually comedians provoke laughter, but somewhere in a way provoked a global chess league. Now it's not a joke, and if it is a joke, then it's the most expensive joke anyone has ever played on me. But as you can see, I'm in fact enjoying the fruits of the success of that expense and effort. Right after that, a lesser-known story, but Arkady Gorkovich, who was the president of FIDE at that time, somehow got my email and he mailed me saying, look, I saw your comment, are you serious about starting a league? And when I confirmed that I was, he followed up and we had conversations for months, at the end of which we became collaborators and And partners. So I want to thank Arkady. He's not here with us today, but Victor, please do pass on my good wishes to him. And then, of course, how could you think of doing a league starting out in India without involving the very icon of Indian chess? And that was Vishwanath Nanad. And when I approached him, unhesitatingly, he threw his hat in the ring. Helping us throw down the gauntlet of this league. Anand, it's been an absolute pleasure working with you. Thank you so much for everything you've done for this league. A big round of applause for him, please.
And the home of Java has created a special chess-inspired edition of the new All-Stars Java 42 Bobble. Put your hands together for the all-new Java 42 Bobble.
But when you see it closer, there's a chess theme on it, and we've called it the Silver Knight because the knight is the piece that does not move in a linear way. It's the only one that has an unorthodox move, and what we believe is that this This bike too has had an unorthodox trajectory, proving everyone wrong, creating surprises. And we believe the best chess players, like the best riders, don't take the obvious path. That's the reason for the name.
All right then, may we have that Button that is going to reveal the big trophy. That is the trophy of Techwork India Global Chess League. Welcome to the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League Season Four. Enjoy the rest of the evening.
Once again, everyone.
Okay.
बारिश आ गया। ओके लुकिया स्मайл। ओके अभिमान। वो कोई बात है शॉट। होल होल अभिमान। This camera straight. Camera look here, everyone. This straight look.
