GCL to boost fan engagement as fourth season opens in Bengaluru on September 5

GCL Commissioner Gourav Rakshit said the Global Chess League’s fourth season will open in Bengaluru on September 5 and that the event will offer expanded opportunities for fan engagement. He made the remarks to The Hindu over the phone on August 24, 2026.

The league’s third edition in Mumbai last year proved a big hit with spectators who were able to meet and engage with their favourite stars at the Royal Opera House. "After Mumbai, we have a sense of what the Indian fan expects from the GCL, and we are looking forward to making it even bigger and better at Bengaluru," Rakshit said. He added: "I think our broadcast also worked extremely well, and the fans at the venue could listen to the commentary of the games through headsets. That novelty was welcomed by the fans."

Rakshit described building an audience for chess as a core aim of the competition. "One of the missions of GCL is to build a fanbase of chess," he said. He also noted the profile of the league’s followers: "Most of our fans are also chess players." Rakshit said the GCL was developing an app intended to offer significant features for those fans.

On the app, Rakshit said: "Now this time we have got an app where they can actually play along with the Grandmaster. The idea is that they could do their moves before the GMs. And they will get to actually see the live positions that are on the board. We are excited that we will give the fans at home also a different opportunity to experience GCL, not just on the stream, but in action, live inside the app."

Rakshit said attendees at Bengaluru could expect greater access to players inside the venue. "They could look forward to spending more time with the players at Bengaluru," he said. "At the special sections inside the fan zone now, where players can come and actually interact with the fans," he added, and he noted: "The team owners too can interact with the fans, who will get a chance to experience a close connection with all the players."

The fourth season opens at Bengaluru on September 5, with organisers planning enhanced in-venue fan access and a new app for fans at home. Rakshit said those elements are part of the league’s effort to deepen fan engagement during the upcoming season.