Global Chess League 2023: Started with a motive to revolutionalise Chess’ ecosystem, the Global Chess League has been a huge success. The inaugural edition saw world class players battle it out in six teams. In the end, Triveni Continental Kings created history by winning the title in the very-first season. One of the stars that shone brightly for the team was 19-year old Jonas Buhl Bjerre. The Dane spoke to InsideSport, reminiscing about the victory alongside Akash Premsen, VP, Strategy at Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd that owns the Triveni Continental Kings.
Also Read: Levon Aronian-led Triveni Continental Kings lift Inaugural Global Chess League title
The nerve-wrecking final
Triveni Continental Kings faced UpGrad Mumba Masters in the final. The match went all the way down the wire to fourth sudden death game in blitz tie-breaker. In a tense contest, Bjerre was facing GM Javokhir Sindarov. The former had earlier lost four times during the course of the league. But in the all-important final, he defeated the Uzbek as Triveni Continental Kings got their hands on the trophy.
Speaking about the final, Bjerre said, “I was very nervous before the last important game. I was trying to focus on the game and focussing on one move at a time. Even though I lost the four games before the final I felt like he was not playing any better than me. He was just more precise in the last moments. So I thought I had to do that and the victory was very memorable.”
Adding more to it Akash Premsen said, “Jonas is a very sharp person. The fact that he won the most stressful game of the tournament is a testament to his focus and his ability to manage stress. He came out on top because he held his nerve throughout. I have a lot of respect for him. He celebrated his 19th Birthday with us during the course of the tournament. I think he is a beacon for thousands of children out there who want to do something different.”
The Triveni Continental Kings team
Apart from Bjerre, the other players who were part of the team were the experienced Levon Aronian as the icon player, China’s Yu Yang Yi and Wei Yi, Russia’s Kateryna Lagno and Iran’s youngster Sara Khadem.
The team had a poor start and were at the bottom of the table during the first-half of the league. However the team made a terrific comeback and won the title. “At the beginning of the tournament we were struggling a bit. It was very important to keep the fighting spirit going. Our coach and Aronian helped in encouraging the team to keep on fighting. We never lost hope and managed to make a comeback towards the end,” said Bjerre.
When asked how it was to work in the same team that has the experienced player like Aronian, he added, “It was really an amazing experience to be in the same team as him. He is a big personality and an amazing player. He was happy to share some advice and gave us the encouragement to play well. That was really special.”
The Philosophy
This is Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd’s first investment in a sports league. When asked why the company chose Chess, Akash replied, “For us as a corporate organisation, we really felt that chess is in line with our philosophy as well as the intelligence level of us as an engineering company and turbine manufacturer.”
“We are more interested in chess side of things and less on the spectacle side of things. We talk about the good of the game, spreading the word of chess and the benefits it has on young minds. That is what we are focused on versus some of the other elements that comes with owning the team,” he added.
Potential for growth is huge
Over the least few years, India has seen proliferation of leagues across almost every sport. However only a few have managed to strike chord and become successful. When asked how he looks at the Global Chess League from an owner’s perspective, Akash said that he feels the league has a tremendous potential to grow.
“There is a lot of excitement about chess because the level of infra that is required is very low. Chess is something that transcends age, time and space. As a sport or as an activity, the acceptability of chess internationally across humanity is huge.”
“There are very few sports that are intellectual in nature. Chess is very squarely in the intellectual zone. That is a hugely positive place because there are lot of people who would like to be more involved with it. It is one of those rare sports where you can keep getting better at no matter how old you get. So the potential for growth is huge,” he said.
He further added, “I think it is an evergreen sport and has a global following. What has happened in the first year is honestly the tip of the ice-berg and I really doubt there would be a fizzling off. I think there is also a lot of people that will want their kid to be involved in chess.”
Triveni Continental Kings also aims to build a strong Chess Community. “We will be building a strong community and will promote the game in the right manner. The how and when of it that I can’t share right now because we are still discussing a lot,” he concluded.
Bjerre meanwhile will next be seen in action at the Chess World Cup 2023. The tournament will begin on 30th July. “My next tournament will be the World Cup. That’s quite exciting as I have never played in a World Cup before. I don’t know exactly what to expect but I am going to try my best,” he signed off.
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