Global Chess League commentators announced: Journalists, Streamers and Comedians take centre stage
Global Chess League commentators announced: Journalists, Streamers and Comedians take centre stage
Dubai, June 20, 2023: The Global Chess League today announced the unconventional commentator line-up for the inaugural season of the league, including grandmasters and chess enthusiasts.
In its effort to deliver chess to the public in a new and more accessible form, the inaugural edition of the Tech Mahindra-powered Global Chess League has announced its core commentator line-up which is different from the traditional concept of featuring only top chess grandmasters.
For the first time ever, a live broadcast of a global professional chess event will feature non-chess professionals, including a comedian.
“Our goal was to bring chess closer to people who are not professionals or don’t have a deep understanding of chess, but still like the game and would like to learn more. The commentators we have announced will help make the coverage more exciting and bring a new, never-before-seen, dynamic in covering a chess event,” said Jagdish Mitra, Chairperson of the Global Chess League Board.
“Hopefully, the audience will find this coverage both useful in terms of getting to know more about chess but also exciting and easy to follow,” Mr Mitra added.
The commenting lineup includes Samay Raina – an Indian stand-up comedian, YouTuber and chess enthusiast. Raina gained prominence by creating humorous and engaging chess-related content on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
Joining the team will be American streamer James Canty III. A chess fan from his early days, Canty is known as ‘Jedi Master’ to his followers on social media where he talks about studying chess and improving his play.
Journalist Sagar Shah also joins the lineup. A chartered accountant by training, Sagar Shah is a well-known chess journalist and the leading figure of ChessBase India, one of the most
popular chess news and education websites. Alongside his wife Amruta Mokal, a multimedia reporter and a professional chess player, the two have for years been streaming chess events and providing coverage in a light, easily understandable fashion, including creating content for children. Both have gained fame with open and deep interviews with prominent figures from the chess world.
The commentator’s team also includes International chess master and streamer Tania Sachdev, Woman Grandmaster Keti Tsatsalashvili as well as International Master Jesse February from South Africa, all representatives of a new, young wave of chess pros turned commentators, showcasing the game in a new light.
The chess analysis cornerstone of the team will be Grandmaster Peter Svidler. One of the most accomplished grandmasters, Svidler was until recently a member of the 2700-club, which refers to the strongest world grandmasters. His creative play on the board is matched by his wit and thought-provoking comments going beyond the chess board, for which he is well-known.
The emphasis on a ‘chess-light’ coverage of the Global Chess League is aimed to cater to a wider audience. Unlike traditional analysis and commentary usually tailored to knowledgeable viewers, the league is committed to providing more accessible content. This groundbreaking approach will see commentating teams comprised of both chess professionals and non-professionals.
With its commentator lineup, the Global Chess League promises a compelling viewing experience that will not only educate but also entertain chess enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
About Tech Mahindra Global Chess League:
The Global Chess League is the world’s first and largest official franchise league of its kind, with chess players from all over the world competing in a unique joint team format. It is a joint venture between Tech Mahindra, a part of the Mahindra Group, and FIDE. The league will feature male and female chess champions competing in the same team. Playing on the popular Rapid format, the league’s joint male-female teams will have the rare distinction of being a unique multiplayer team in the world of professional sports. In addition, the League will be the first ever Live televised chess event of its kind that will help offer fans a unique viewing experience. Tech Mahindra and FIDE will explore innovative ways to promote the game through interactive technology-enabled platforms by leveraging next-generation technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, among others.
For more information on Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, please visit: https://globalchessleague.com/
