The Global Chess League 2026 Draft season 4 has finalized the six franchise squads for the 2026 edition, featuring many of the world’s biggest chess stars. Among the standout moves, Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, Divya Deshmukh, and Koneru Humpy will play together for defending champions APL Pipers, while Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin emerged as one of the most sought-after players during the draft.
The fourth season of the franchise-based tournament will be held in Bengaluru from September 3 to 13, 2026, bringing together elite Grandmasters and rising talents from around the world for one of the biggest events on the international chess calendar.
Nihal Sarin Becomes One of the Biggest Picks of the Draft
Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin attracted significant interest during the player draft before being signed by American Gambits.
The 22-year-old, who was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Season 2, joins a talented squad led by 2026 Candidates Tournament winner Javokhir Sindarov.
Fresh off qualifying for the Esports World Cup and India’s Esports Nations Cup team, Sarin continues to strengthen his profile as one of India’s leading young chess stars.
Magnus Carlsen Headlines Defending Champions APL Pipers
Defending champions APL Pipers retained world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen while assembling one of the strongest lineups in the competition.
The franchise also added:
- Anish Giri
- Divya Deshmukh
- Koneru Humpy
- Vidit Gujrathi
- Volodar Murzin
The combination of experienced Grandmasters and emerging talents positions APL Pipers as one of the favorites to defend their title.
Viswanathan Anand Makes Historic Team Switch
One of the biggest stories of the draft was Viswanathan Anand’s decision to change franchises for the first time in Global Chess League history.
The five-time World Champion joined PBG Alaskan Knights, where he will partner with India’s top-ranked Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi.
The team also strengthened its lineup by adding Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Kateryna Lagno, Nino Batsiashvili, and Abhimanyu Mishra.
Other Major Draft Highlights
Several franchises made key additions ahead of the new season:
- Ganges Grandmasters signed Ian Nepomniachtchi and welcomed back Levon Aronian after a two-season absence.
- Triveni Continental Kings retained Alireza Firouzja while adding Aravindh Chithambaram and Pranav Venkatesh.
- Mumba Masters largely retained their successful core, keeping one of the league’s most balanced squads intact.
Global Chess League 2026 Draft Season 4 Full Squads
American Gambits
- Javokhir Sindarov
- Nihal Sarin
- Daniil Dubov
- Bibisara Assaubayeva
- Sara Khadem
- Marc’Andria Maurizzi
APL Pipers
- Magnus Carlsen
- Anish Giri
- Vidit Gujrathi
- Divya Deshmukh
- Koneru Humpy
- Volodar Murzin
Ganges Grandmasters
- Ian Nepomniachtchi
- Levon Aronian
- Leinier Dominguez
- Polina Shuvalova
- Stavroula Tsolakidou
- Leon Luke Mendonca
Mumba Masters
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
- Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
- Vladimir Fedoseev
- Carissa Yip
- Harika Dronavalli
- Bardiya Daneshvar
PBG Alaskan Knights
- Viswanathan Anand
- Arjun Erigaisi
- Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus
- Kateryna Lagno
- Nino Batsiashvili
- Abhimanyu Mishra
Triveni Continental Kings
- Alireza Firouzja
- Wei Yi
- Aravindh Chithambaram
- Zhu Jiner
- Alexandra Kosteniuk
- Pranav Venkatesh
Why the 2026 Global Chess League Matters
With elite Grandmasters, rising stars and former world champions competing together, Global Chess League Season 4 promises to be one of the strongest editions of the tournament.
The draft has created several high-profile combinations, particularly APL Pipers’ star-studded lineup led by Magnus Carlsen, while the arrival of Viswanathan Anand at PBG Alaskan Knights adds another compelling storyline heading into the Bengaluru event.
