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Indian chess prodigy Pranesh M and Argentina’s Faustino Oro, fondly known as the ‘Messi of Chess’, are set to headline the list of 12 Grandmasters and International Masters who have joined the GCL Contenders 2025 Knockout Challengers Round as the players will face qualifiers from earlier rounds for three coveted ambassador spots in season 3 of the Global Chess League.
The Global Chess League will take place at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai from December 13 to 24. The joint initiative between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, conducted in collaboration with Chess.com, the league’s official platform partner, aims to provide an engaging and seamless experience for both players and spectators.
The GCL Contenders 2025 began with over 11,500 players worldwide signing up across three categories: Male, Female, and U21, Prodigy. After intense battles in 18 rapid arenas, top performers advanced through the GCL Opens and Titled Knockouts to reach the Challengers stage, which now includes Grandmasters and International Masters. In the next phase, 12 titled players will compete against four online qualifiers across three divisions. The winners will join the GCL main event as ambassadors.
“GCL Contenders is designed to connect the entire chess ecosystem, from everyday players to professionals, on a single competitive platform. The arrival of Grandmasters and International Masters in this round reflects exactly that spirit. It’s a global, inclusive format that redefines what open competition can mean for the sport,” said Gourav Rakshit, Commissioner of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League.
Oro, aged 11, gained global attention after defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in an online blitz match, later becoming the world’s youngest-ever player to cross the 2500 Elo mark in early 2025. He joins the Prodigies, the U21 section of the Contenders, alongside fellow Indian GM Pranesh M, winner of the Challengers section of the Chennai Grand Masters, Belarusian star Denis Lazavik, and India’s GM Pranav Anand. This quartet is drawn alongside qualifiers Rosh Jain, Gopal Krishna M, Rathina Sabapathi A, and Jvan Saurin Patel.
“It’s exciting to be part of something that connects players from all over the world. I’ve been following the Global Chess League and can’t wait to test myself against strong opponents. I’m looking forward to giving my best in the prodigy section,” said Faustino Oro.
In the Men’s category, Grandmasters Jose Martinez of Mexico, Dutchman Benjamin Bok, American Andrew Tang, and India’s Abhimanyu Puranik will compete, each set to face one of four qualifiers who advanced through the global Opens and Titled Knockouts: Diptayan Ghosh, Aradhya Garg, Alok Sinha, and Harshal Patel.
In the Women’s section, IM Yuliia Osmak of Ukraine, IM Padmini Rout of India, and IM Mai Narva from Estonia headline a strong field, which also includes qualifiers Iranian Mitra Hejazipour, Indians Rucha Pujari, Angel Ruth, South African Jesse February, and Pole Oliwia Kiolbasa. This mix of international experience and emerging regional talent gives the bracket a distinctly global look.
“The GCL Contenders is a fantastic idea. It gives everyone, from rising players to professionals, a chance to compete on the same stage. The format is fresh and competitive, and I’m really looking forward to matching up against some incredible rising women chess stars and seeing how far I can go,” stated Rout.
All matches in the Challengers Knockout will be played in rapid format on Chess.com and streamed on GCL’s official YouTube channel. Participants will compete under strict fair play protocols, including camera monitoring and anti-cheating measures, ensuring transparency and integrity at every stage.
