Magnus Carlsen’s SG Alpine Warriors, where none of the six grandmasters represents an Alpine nation, and Vishy Anand’s Ganges Grandmasters, where the Chennai legend is the only Indian, were joint leaders after six of the 10 qualifying rounds leading up to Sunday’s final of the franchise-based Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL), but the race remained close.
Carlsen has appeared clean-shaven, assured and vigorous, a contrast to last month at Stavanger where he was hirsute and moody and had one of the worst setbacks of his career. Alpine Warriors include three of India’s best teen talents, and the now former world champion but still world No 1 has slipped easily into the role of mentor, passing on nuggets of high-class advice.
