Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers took the top spot in the standings despite losing one of their two matches on Monday while CheQ Mumba Masters and PBG Alaskan Knights continued their revival on day 3 of the Global Chess League (GCL). Alpine APL Pipers, playing with white pieces for the first time in the competition, went down 7-9 against PBG Alaskan Knights in the first match of the day only to bounce back with a resounding 15-3 win over FYERS American Gambits and climb to the top of the leader board.
Magnus Carlsen’s win was not enough for the Pipers to avoid their first loss in the competition as both Vidit and Humpy, who had won their earlier two games, went down against PBG Alaskan Knights.
Vidit Gujrathi and Koneru Humpy were once again the stars of the team as they registered their third win in four matches. On the prodigy board, Volodar Murzin outplayed Marc’andria Maurizzi to make it three wins for the team. “In the morning game it was equal but I got a time pressure. Bardiya Daneshvar then secured three more game points for his team as Leon Luke Mendonca ran out of time on the prodigy board to take the Mumba Masters at the top of the leader-board till the next game between FYERS American Gambits and Alpine APL Pipers.
In the other match of the day, Mumba Masters registered a dominant 12-3 win over Ganges Grandmasters to move up to second spot. Vidit was clinical in dismantling Daniil Dubov despite being under time pressure while Humpy defeated Sara Khadem in 29 moves. Carrisa Yip began Mumba Masters’ march with a win over Stavroula Tsolakidou and then Player of the Match M Pranesh kept his cool during the last-minute scramble to force the experienced Levon Aronian to resign after 65 moves.
There was pressure in the second game but I am happy that I could win,” said Player of the Match Vidit after the win.
