GCL: Ganges Grandmasters run riot on Day 7; Magnus Carlsen offers POTM trophy to Vidit Gujrathi | Chess Information

Magnus Carlsen offers POTM trophy to Vidit Gujrathi (GCL Picture)

BENGALURU: Ganges Grandmasters and defending champions APL Pipers strengthened their probabilities of reaching the World Chess League remaining after convincing victories within the penultimate spherical of Season 4 in Bengaluru on Friday. Each groups now want only a win of their remaining round-robin match on Saturday to safe a spot within the title conflict.Ganges Grandmasters produced the largest victory of the event, thrashing Mumba Masters 16-1, whereas the Pipers edged American Gambits 9-7 in a vital battle between the highest two groups.The outcomes left Ganges and Pipers degree on 18 match factors, however Ganges moved into first place with 88 recreation factors, 4 greater than Pipers.The Pipers’ victory was highlighted by world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen ending Candidates 2026 winner Javokhir Sindarov’s three-game profitable streak.Whereas Divya Deshmukh’s troublesome GCL debut continued as she ran out of time in opposition to Bibisara Assaubayeva, Carlsen managed the Icon board encounter and compelled Sindarov to resign after 36 strikes.He was named Participant of the Match however then handed the trophy to teammate Vidit Gujrathi, who sealed the match by defeating Daniil Dubov.Vidit prevailed in a marathon 96-move battle on the Famous person Males board, protecting his composure in a time scramble to transform an additional knight and pawn in opposition to Dubov’s rook.“Initially, I believe this was an excellent match with an excellent group efficiency. We’re thrilled to get the win. In my recreation, I used to be doing fairly properly early on, however he (Sindarov) put up a giant struggle however I used to be capable of wriggle out and discover the win,” Carlsen stated, earlier than giving the MOTM trophy to Vidit.“I don’t deserve this ‘participant of the match’ as a lot as the person who gained us the match,” the five-time classical World Champion stated, acknowledging Vidit’s contribution.Ganges’ commanding victory was powered by Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian, Leinier Dominguez Perez, Stavroula Tsolakidou and Leon Luke Mendonca, who all gained their video games with White. Polina Shuvalova drew with Harika, whereas the Mumba Masters endured a heavy defeat.Within the day’s different match, Triveni Continental Kings defeated Alaskan Knights 13-7. Triveni’s Zhu Jiner registered her first win of the event in opposition to Kateryna Lagno, Alexandra Kosteniuk beat Nino Batsiashvili, and Pranav Venkatesh defeated Abhimanyu Mishra. In the meantime, Knights’ Arjun Erigaisi additionally beat Wei Yi, whereas 15-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus defeated Aravindh Chithambaram. However these wins weren’t sufficient to take them residence.Ganges and Pipers will qualify for the ultimate with victories, whereas the Gambits want one of many prime two groups to lose and should beat Mumba Masters by a convincing margin to maintain their hopes alive.

GCL 2026 Factors desk after Day 7

GCL 2026 fixtures for Day 8 – Saturday, September 12