Magnus Carlsen, the world No 1, and Javokhir Sindarov, the world championship challenger from Uzbekistan, are set to face off at least twice in the upcoming Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, running from September 5-13 in Bengaluru, India. This six-team franchise competition is modeled after cricket’s Indian Premier League.

Competing for the defending champions, Alpine APL Pipers, Carlsen will play on the top board, while Sindarov represents Fyers American Gambits. Other notable players include Alireza Firouzja (Triveni Continental Kings), Ian Nepomniachtchi (Ganges Grandmasters), Viswanathan Anand (PBG Alaskan Knights), and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (CheQ Mumba Masters). The league features promising talents like Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, a record-breaking 15-year-old from Turkey, along with top female contenders led by Bibisara Assaubayeva.

Carlsen and Sindarov will compete in two preliminary games, each with different colors, with the potential for additional matches if their teams progress to the semi-finals or finals. The time control for each game is set at 20 minutes, plus a two-second increment from move 41.

Historically, the two have faced each other in Freestyle Chess, but this encounter marks a pivotal moment, as it carries a significant competitive edge, potentially echoing a world championship match that may never materialize.

The Global Chess League aims to elevate chess into a mainstream team sport, integrating elite men and women alongside emerging talents. With its growing media presence, the league is also introducing innovative features like app-based probability forecasts.

In parallel, the European Senior Team Championships for over-50s and over-65s are concluding in Hersonissos, Crete, where England is in contention for medals in both categories, having already secured gold in the women's event. England leads the standings in both age groups, showcasing the legacy of the English Chess Explosion from the 1970s and 1980s.

The final round of these championships is set to begin at 1:15pm BST and will be available for viewing on lichess.