TLDR: Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL) launched “GCL Contenders 2025,” a global online tournament in partnership with Chess.com, offering aspiring players a direct path to compete with Grandmasters in Season 3 as league ambassadors.
Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL), a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, today announced the launch of GCL Contenders 2025, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to democratize access to professional chess. The programme offers aspiring players across the world a direct pathway to compete alongside international Grandmasters in the world’s only franchise-based chess league.
The two-month global tournament, developed in partnership with Chess.com, will identify three winners who will enter Season 3 of GCL as league ambassadors, securing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step into the spotlight with some of the sport’s biggest icons.
Peeyush Dubey, Chairperson, Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, said, “Since its inception, GCL has been at the forefront of redefining the game. With GCL Contenders, we are taking this vision further by opening the stage to aspiring players worldwide, allowing them to potentially compete alongside the world’s greatest Grandmasters. This is more than a tournament, it is a landmark step for the global chess community, one that will inspire players and fans across generations and geographies.”
The initiative reflects Tech Mahindra’s vision of combining technology, innovation, and inclusivity to grow chess into a truly global community. Participants ranging from everyday enthusiasts to rising stars will compete across multiple stages, beginning with digital qualifiers and culminating in live-streamed knockout matches on YouTube, Twitch, and social media platforms.
Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, added, “The Global Chess League is an innovative concept that brought new ideas to chess and engaged new audiences. We are excited to see this continue with the new Contenders programme, which will bring together professional and non-professional players in competition to become the ambassadors of the third season of the GCL.”
Designed as a multi-tiered tournament, GCL Contenders 2025 will unite players across six time zones from India to the USA, UK, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia, further strengthening the league’s positioning as the world’s most innovative chess ecosystem. The initiative not only elevates grassroots participation but also creates a new digital-first format for fan engagement
Danny Rensch, Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com, said, “The first two seasons of the GCL demonstrated the mass appeal of team-based chess, something we have always believed in. Now with the launch of GCL Contenders, we’re excited about a deeper and more expansive competitive ecosystem. And there is no better country than India for Season 3 of the GCL, a place that lives and breathes chess.”
GCL Contenders will officially debut with Season 3 of the Global Chess League, beginning December 13, 2025. Players can register starting August 28, 2025 at: https://contenders.globalchessleague.com/
THE GCL CONTENDER FORMAT DETAILS
To enter GCL Contenders 2025, players must register on the official GCL portal and compete in one of the three categories – Male, Female, and U21. The journey begins with the GCL Opens, where participants (with an active Chess.com account and at least 25 games played) are placed into 18 rapid arenas representing franchisees. The top two from each arena qualify, and together with four invited players chosen for their chess merit, community impact, or fan appeal, form a pool of 16 contenders.
These 16 then advance to the Titled GCL Knockouts, facing each other in live-streamed matches across YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms, including their social handles. From there, four winners move into the Challengers Knock Out, joined by four additional GMs/Ims. Thereafter, the top three winners, one from each category—Male, Female, and U21 (Prodigy)—post the Challenger’s knockout (KO), secure a coveted spot as the GCL Season 3 ambassadors. All participants must meet eligibility norms and adhere to fair play protocols, including camera monitoring and anti-cheating measures.
All participants must have an active chess.com account and have played at least 25 games under this ID. They must also meet category-specific age eligibility requirements and adhere to fair play protocols, including camera monitoring and anti-cheating measures
