Global Chess League 2025: When D Gukesh picked a fight on the board that ‘Vishy sir’ won

D Gukesh vs Viswanathan Anand

World Champion loses to his mentor in another disappointing result as Ganges Grandmasters beat PBG Alaskan Knights

What do chess players do when they want to pick a fight over the board? If they’re playing with black pieces, they’re likely to play the Sicilian opening, a razor-sharp option which sends a signal to the opponent that you’re itching for a battle over the 64 squares.

That’s exactly what world champion D Gukesh did when he faced off against his idol and mentor Viswanathan Anand in a Global Chess League clash on Tuesday. Anand might be semi-retired, but he hasn’t lost his appetite for a good fight and forced his protege to resign in 45 moves as his team Ganges Grandmasters defeated the teenage world champion’s PBG Alaskan Knights 12-3.