Alpine APL Pipers Keep Lead as Ganga Grandmasters Secure Runner‑up Spot

Day two of the Global Chess League’s fourth season in Bangalore saw the Alpine APL Pipers extend their dominance with a second straight win, while the Ganga Grandmasters rose to the runner‑up position after a decisive 9‑7 triumph over the American Gambits.

The Pipers opened the day by routing Ganga Grandmasters 11‑6, reaffirming their status at the summit of the leaderboard. Later, the Grandmasters answered back, wiping out the Gambits’ momentum and climbing to second place.

Polina Shuvvalova secured the Player of the Match honour for the Gambits after defeating Bibisara Assaubayeva in three quick rounds. Ian Nepomnyachy’s skillful rook‑pawn endgame against 2026 Candidates victor Javokhir Sindarov turned a bleak position into a winning one, adding drama to the event.

While Gambits veteran Denis Dubov and Linear Dominance Perez held a long 101‑move battle, they could not convert their advantage. In parallel, Vidit Gujrathi and Koneru Humpy each added a second consecutive victory, bolstering the Pipers’ lead. Women’s World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh suffered another loss, this time to Shuvvalova.

Vidit capitalised on a small slip by Linear Dominance Perez, clinching a 38‑move win, and Humpy dispatched Stawroła Tsolakidou in 41 moves. The PBGT Alaskan Knights advanced to fourth place after strong performances by Arjun Erigaisi, Nino Batsiashvili (Player of the Match), and Abhimanyu Mishra against the Check Mumba Masters. Fifteen‑year‑old Yagiz Kan Erdogmus ultimately bowed out after 82 moves against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov when the clock ran down.