Ganges Grandmasters Beat American Gambits to Reach Second

Ganges Grandmasters halted the winning run of American Gambits with a 9-7 victory on day two of Global Chess League Season 4 in Bengaluru, moving into second place in the standings. The result came after Ganges had opened their day with an 11-6 defeat to defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, making their response against the table-toppers particularly significant.

The day also brought a second consecutive win for Alpine APL Pipers, while PBG Alaskan Knights claimed their first victory of the tournament by beating CheQ Mumba Masters 11-6. With multiple teams collecting important results, the second day produced movement in the early league standings.

Grandmasters respond after Pipers defeat

Ganges Grandmasters had first faced Alpine APL Pipers and were beaten 11-6. Vidit Gujrathi and Koneru Humpy each registered a second straight win with the black pieces to put Pipers in control, despite women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh suffering another reversal.

Vidit capitalised on a slight error from Leinier Dominguez Perez and won in 38 moves. Humpy defeated Stavroula Tsolakidou in 41 moves, with the report describing her victory as a systematic dismantling. Polina Shuvalova then beat Divya, leaving Ganges with an opportunity to reduce the margin through Ian Nepomniachtchi’s game against Magnus Carlsen on the icon board.

Nepomniachtchi reached the endgame with a clear advantage and almost five minutes remaining, but Carlsen fought back after the queens were traded and the game ended in a draw. The result completed Pipers’ 11-6 success over Ganges.

Humpy was named player of the match after her victory. “After the opening I was very clear that I was in a better position,” she said. “Definitely, I could have played much better but I also wanted to play fast and I think I played well enough to win.”

Shuvalova and Nepomniachtchi drive 9-7 win

Ganges Grandmasters put that earlier defeat behind them in their later match against American Gambits. Nihal recorded a victory for the Gambits, but it was not enough to secure the overall winning edge.

Shuvalova, named player of the match, defeated Bibisara Assaubayeva to make it three wins from three rounds. Nepomniachtchi then turned the tables on 2026 Candidates winner Javokhir Sindarov in a rook-and-pawn endgame, pushing Ganges ahead in the team contest.

American Gambits had another opportunity through Daniil Dubov, who held an advantage against Dominguez Perez. However, Dubov could not convert that position into a win despite the game lasting 101 moves. Ganges ultimately secured the 9-7 result, ending the Gambits’ winning momentum and rising to second spot.

PBG Alaskan Knights also improved their position, jumping to fourth in the standings after their 11-6 victory over CheQ Mumba Masters. Arjun Erigaisi, Nino Batsiashvili and Abhimanyu Mishra won with the white pieces. Batsiashvili was named player of the match.

In another long contest, 15-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus appeared well placed against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov but could not find the right combination under time pressure. Erdogmus eventually resigned after 82 moves.

Ganges Grandmasters’ recovery from their morning setback was the defining turnaround of the day. Their win over American Gambits not only stopped the league leaders’ run but also placed Ganges second as the Global Chess League campaign continued in Bengaluru.