Alpine SG Pipers just pulled off a stunning upset by dethroning the two-time defending champions, Triveni Continental Kings, to claim the GCL 2025 title in Mumbai. This victory turned the final into pure chess drama, proving that momentum can topple even the biggest favourites.
GCL 2025: Alpine SG Pipers vs Triveni Continental Kings
The Pipers entered the finale on a high after barely scraping through to the final, edging out Ganges Grandmasters by one game point in the league stage. They dominated from the start, winning the first rapid match 4-2 with black pieces and sealing it with a commanding 4.5-1.5 score in the second with white. PBG Alaskan Knights grabbed third place after a thrilling tie-break win over Ganges Grandmasters.
Right from the opening moves, the action was electric. On the prodigy board, Nino Batsiashvili outplayed Alexandra Kosteniuk in a tense bishop-knight endgame, while Leon Luke Mendonca ground down Marc’Andria Maurizzi after 52 moves to force a resignation. Triveni fought back when star Alireza Firouzja beat Fabiano Caruana on the icon board, but Anish Giri’s crucial win over Wei Yi gave the Pipers a 4-2 lead in the first match.
The second match was no less intense. R Praggnanandhaa struck early, defeating Vidit Gujrathi to hand the Pipers the edge. Giri then doubled down with another victory over Wei Yi, putting the result out of reach. Caruana managed a full point against Firouzja, who flagged on time, but it wasn’t enough. The Kings, who entered as favourites, simply couldn’t climb the mountain.
Player Of The Match: Anish Giri
Anish Giri earned Player of the Match honours for his two wins, sharing mixed emotions turned pure joy: “Yesterday was tough, but today there’s no mixed feeling.” Praggnanandhaa, beaming after the triumph, added, “We barely made the final, but everyone showed up with their best game.” Firouzja took Male Player of the Tournament for his dominant run, while Hou Yifan was honoured for her key wins that propelled the Pipers forward.
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In the third-place playoff, world champion D Gukesh finally bested Viswanathan Anand to help PBG Alaskan Knights edge Ganges Grandmasters in a blitz tie-break after a 4-2 rapid split. This GCL 2025 edition, backed by Tech Mahindra and FIDE, delivered non-stop excitement till the end.
With the Pipers lifting the trophy, the chess world buzzes with new possibilities. Triveni’s reign ends, but expect fiercer battles next time. Stay tuned, chess just got even more cinematic!
Also read: FIDE World Rapid And Blitz in Doha: Top Contenders Ready For Title Hunt
