News DeskLondon: The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League saw a thrilling conclusion to its round-robin phase, with the Triveni Continental Kings securing the last spot in the finals after a stunning 9-7 victory over Alpine Sg Pipers. Despite three matches taking place on Friday, all attention was focused on the decisive clash between Triveni and the Pipers, which determined who would join the PBG Alaskan Knights in the championship showdown.
The Pipers entered the match with 18 match points and 81 game points, while Triveni trailed with 15 match points but a stronger game point tally of 90. A Triveni win was essential for them to advance, and the match lived up to the high stakes from start to finish.
The day’s drama began with FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich making the ceremonial first move on the icon board, where Alireza Firouzja of Triveni faced Magnus Carlsen of Sg Pipers. Initially, the Pipers looked strong, securing solid positions on the top boards. Carlsen took the upper hand against Firouzja, while Hou Yifan was in control against Alexandra Kosteniuk. A draw between Teimour Radjabov and Richard Rapport kept the tension high as the match progressed.
However, in rapid chess, momentum can shift quickly. Triveni’s Valentina Gunina started a remarkable comeback, defeating Kateryna Lagno, while Carlsen’s victory over Firouzja put the Pipers in the lead. But crucial missteps followed for the Pipers. Praggnanandhaa blundered a winning position against Wei Yi, resulting in a draw, and Hou Yifan, despite her advantage, could not overcome Kosteniuk, leaving the Pipers with a slim 7-6 lead.
With everything coming down to the final game on the prodigy board, Triveni’s Javokhir Sindarov held his nerve in a tense battle against Daniel Dardha. In severe time pressure, Sindarov emerged victorious, sealing Triveni’s place in the finals with a 9-7 win. Triveni will now defend their season one title against the PBG Alaskan Knights.
Other Matches: Ganges Grandmasters and PBG Alaskan Knights End on High Notes
In the day’s other matches, Ganges Grandmasters dominated upGrad Mumba Masters 12-4, avoiding a last-place finish in the league. Despite strong squads, both teams struggled throughout the season. In this final match, Vishy Anand’s Ganges secured a commanding victory, with crucial wins from Vaishali Rameshbabu and Parham Maghsoodloo pushing them past Mumba. The result capped a disappointing season for Mumba, who managed only three wins in nine matches.
Meanwhile, PBG Alaskan Knights continued their impressive form with a 14-5 victory over American Gambits. Though already qualified for the finals, PBG put in a strong performance, winning on three of the bottom four boards. Anish Giri and Hikaru Nakamura drew their match on the icon board, while Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Nodirbek Abdusattorov also split the points. However, wins from Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Alina Kashlinskaya, and Nihal Sarin ensured a dominant win for PBG, who head into the finals full of confidence after finishing with eight wins in ten matches.
With the round-robin phase concluded, the stage is now set for a thrilling final between Triveni Continental Kings and PBG Alaskan Knights, as the top teams vie for the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League crown.
