The video captures an informal, bilingual (English‑Hindi) interview and fan‑zone segment with Naman Mathur, popularly known as Mortal, co‑founder of SHUL Esports, during the Global Chess League (GCL) event. The host (Speaker A) and ChessBase India reporter Abhijit guide Mortal through a series of moments: a ceremonial first move on the Magnus Carlsen board, a quick chess‑variant game set up for fans, and a casual chat about his limited personal chess experience. Mortal expresses nervousness but excitement about making the first move, enjoys the fast‑paced variant, and highlights how such activities can attract non‑players to chess. He praises the GCL venue, its hospitality, and the international player lineup, noting the event’s high production value. The conversation also touches on the growing synergy between esports and chess, with Mortal emphasizing that esports platforms can inspire young players to transition into competitive chess. When asked about his favorite competitor, he roots for Indian prodigy Nihal Sarin. The segment includes brief remarks from tournament director Bharat Singh, chief arbiter Gerd Bayerl, and JP Morgan Chase’s Suren Rathi, as well as light‑hearted banter among the hosts.
Chapters
More of chess audience. Do you play chess regularly?
I don't play, I just know the basics.
So I do want you to go into the time zone at some point and do an announcement that you will come in.
Let's see, let's see how the—
yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll take you from here. Thank you, thank you so much.
All the best. And now for the first move, may I please call upon the tournament director, Mr. Bharat Singh, the chief arbiter, Mr. Gerd Bayerl, and we also have some guests joining us. Mr. Naman Mathur, aka Mortal, icon in the gaming industry and co-founder of SHUL Esports, along with Mr. Suren Rathi, managing director corporate JP Morgan Chase.
Thank you so much. Hello. Thank you so much.
This is the first time I'm signing a chess.
Thank you.
Currently in the commentary box, but I'll let him know.
Yeah, I'll let him know. We have a fun chess activity set up for you. We have something where people can interact.
Can I take a photo? Yes.
Good.
He's amazing. So what you want, bike?
क्या है?
बोला तो अरे लेने देता हूँ। ठीक है। तो लेना ही पड़ेगा। But two options. You should take this. Oh right. Now I have to take. यही तो मात खाता हूँ। देना है भाई अब तो, ठीक है? अब मुझे लेना ही पड़ेगा। बढ़िया। लीगल। लेना ही पड़ेगा। ओह सर, लीगल। एंटीसेस है, एंटीसेस में सब लीगल। Nice. You have to have it. I have to. Come on, it's your मैं टेस्ट कर रहा था अगर दूर सा हो रहा है नहीं मैं आपका टेस्ट कर रहा था। इशान, माइंस। आप मेरा साथ। Wow, it's a deadlock for water. You can move your queen and king. So I just move my queen. Yes. Now you just need one more move to win.
You need to move your king.
Check. You have to capture this king, no?
Happy?
Oh my God! Yeah. Your king, your king.
But you can move only your king.
So now it's now it's done. Now it's done.
Now I need a you need something to capture.
पहले पहुंचिए। रवि तो आपसे हाँ वो भी चलेगा। अरे भाई knight and bishop knight bishop queen And just hope he does not let win. बस और कुछ नहीं कर सकते। Correct. How to be a slow? Yeah. One. Oh! Ah! Well played. That was. Yeah, yeah. Very nice.
Very different.
So how was your experience here at the Panser playing variants?
Amazing, and thank you so much for bringing up such variations because यही चीज़ तो interest जगाती है amongst those who don't play chess.
I relate, I relate. Thank you so much for coming at this fan zone organized by Bangalore Chess Club. We'd love to have you in future events. My name. Thank you, thank you. Bye. Next, next. कल भी स्कैम लाइनों सब पे हैं। ओह यार, बहुत मज़ा. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ओ हेलो कुछ एक्शन करो ना टाइम पे डू सम एक्शन कुछ शूटिंग मूटिंग का ही करना है कुछ शूटिंग मूटिंग जो भी आप देवी में करते हो चाहे Ready? 3, 2, 1, go! Yeah, China. Thank you so much. Hi, bye.
शिविका यहाँ पे क्या?
Just do it.
नमन। Hi, I'm Abhijit from ChessBase India. Hello, बढ़िया। Good. Actually, I first met you in like Hyderabad में chess का किया था ना?
Dream hack.
Dream hack. Yeah, I'll just make these things. Just a couple of questions about done. Hi everyone, I have with me Mortal aka Naman aka Mortal and welcome to GCL. Yes. First we saw you made the first move at the Magnus Carlsen board.
Right.
आपका experience कैसा था?
Oh, I was so nervous but it was amazing. बहुत अच्छा लगा मुझे। मुझे obviously बोला गया था कि दोनों में से किसी एक का होगा whoever gets the white. And Ian, it was. So I made the move for him.
And उसके बाद हम लोगों ने देखा you went to the fan zone. How was the experience? Like meeting fans and also you played chess.
So it was a different variation of chess and that was pretty interesting because मुझे personally rapid chess देखना बहुत पसंद है जो fast खत्म होता है and this was like a variation of it. So it was fun.
But आप खेलते हो in general like मतलब घर में ऐसा कुछ नहीं मतलब मुझे Like I don't play competitively.
कभी time pass के लिए खेल लिया किसी के साथ तो खेल लिया वैसे। And also we have seen EWC में आपका involvement ही है। Right.
Like how is it you seeing esports and also chess you know combining collaborating together?
It's great because we are getting more and more chess players in the community who will definitely try to get into chess and maybe reach that mark of esports world cup. And or GCL, obviously. So all these platforms they become an inspiration for young youngsters, you know, to perform over there. Yeah.
And also what do you have to say about GCL?
Like it's been it's a beautiful venue here and also setup like players from all over the world have amazing amazing बहुत अच्छा setup है overall I really enjoyed the hospitality everything is insane and I'm pretty sure the players are also having a blast.
And which player are you rooting for?
Last question. Nihal Sarin.
Nihal okay yeah of course thank you so much. Nihal है Pragnesh है Yeah, I mean, we'll see. I think we'll hope to see you in the last finals as well. Hopefully your favorite players will be there in the finals also.
