After two days of compelling chess at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House, the standings have crystallized into a clear picture: two teams remain unbeaten, while two are still searching for their first victory. Day 3 promises crucial encounters as teams look to either maintain momentum or kickstart their campaigns.
Match 7: Ganges Grandmasters vs PBG Alaskan Knights (17:00 IST)
The day opens with a clash between two teams heading in opposite directions. The Grandmasters secured a morale-boosting 13-7 victory over Alpine SG Pipers on Day 2, while the Knights suffered a crushing 3-15 defeat to Triveni Continental Kings.
Key Matchups:
Icon Board: The legendary Viswanathan Anand faces World Champion D Gukesh in what could be the most emotionally charged battle of the day. Anand has struggled in Mumbai so far, losing to both Alireza Firouzja and Fabiano Caruana, while Gukesh was comprehensively outplayed by Firouzja in their Icon board clash. Both legends need a statement win.
Men’s Boards: Vincent Keymer and Javokhir Sindarov for the Grandmasters will face Arjun Erigaisi and Leinier Dominguez. Sindarov was brilliant on Day 2, defeating R Praggnanandhaa in dramatic fashion, and will look to continue his fine form. Erigaisi, India’s number two, needs to deliver after a disappointing Day 2.
Women’s Boards: Stavroula Tsolakidou and Polina Shuvalova versus Sara Khadem and Kateryna Lagno. Shuvalova was sensational on Day 2, trapping women’s world number one Hou Yifan in a mating net, showcasing the Grandmasters’ depth across the board.
Prodigy Board: Raunak Sadhwani takes on Daniel Dardha in a rematch from opposite sides. Sadhwani bounced back with a wild win over Leon Mendonca after his Day 1 blunder, while Dardha lost a grinding endgame to Marc Maurizzi.
What to Expect:
The Grandmasters finally found their rhythm on Day 2, with multiple players stepping up to support Anand. If they can replicate that collective performance, they’ll be dangerous. The Knights, meanwhile, need to regroup quickly after being dismantled by the defending champions. This is a must-win for both teams to stay relevant in the standings.
Match 8: Triveni Continental Kings vs FYERS American Gambits (18:30 IST)
The perfect record of defending champions Triveni Continental Kings meets Hikaru Nakamura’s American Gambits, who sit at 1-1 after a narrow Day 2 loss to upGrad Mumba Masters.
Key Matchups:
Icon Board: Alireza Firouzja versus Hikaru Nakamura is the marquee matchup of Day 3. Firouzja has been in scintillating form, taking down both Caruana and Gukesh in consecutive matches with brilliant attacking chess. Nakamura secured a draw against Gukesh on Day 1 and beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave on Day 2, but his team needs more support.
Men’s Boards: Wei Yi and Vidit Gujrathi for Triveni will face Richard Rapport and Vladislav Artemiev. Wei Yi has been rock-solid, defeating Anish Giri convincingly on Day 1. Rapport suffered a tough loss to Shakhriyar Mamedyarov on Day 2, and the Gambits need him to bounce back here.
Women’s Boards: Zhu Jiner and Alexandra Kosteniuk versus Bibisara Assaubayeva and Teodora Injac. Zhu has been exceptional for the Kings, holding her own and leaving opponents in near zugzwang positions. The Gambits’ women’s section needs to contribute more game points.
Prodigy Board: Marc Maurizzi takes on World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin. Maurizzi won a crucial endgame on Day 2, while Murzin struggled against Bardiya Daneshvar. The prodigy board could be pivotal in this tight encounter.
What to Expect:
This is the day’s heavyweight clash. Triveni have been dominant, winning 9-7 and then 15-3, with Firouzja leading from the front and receiving excellent support from their entire lineup. The Gambits have the star power to challenge anyone but need their Icon player to carry less of the burden. Expect tactical fireworks and aggressive chess as Nakamura tries to halt Firouzja’s rampage.
Match 9: upGrad Mumba Masters vs Alpine SG Pipers (20:00 IST)
The day’s final match pits the joint-leaders upGrad Mumba Masters against the winless Alpine SG Pipers in what could be a make-or-break encounter for Fabiano Caruana’s team.
Key Matchups:
Icon Board: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave against Fabiano Caruana is a battle between two elite players with contrasting fortunes. MVL defeated Anand on Day 1 and held his own against Nakamura on Day 2, while Caruana has won both his Icon board games but watched his team lose both matches. This is a massive clash between world-class talents.
Men’s Boards: Wesley So and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov for the Masters versus R Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri. Mamedyarov was absolutely brilliant on Day 2, dismantling Rapport with attacking chess, while Pragg lost to Sindarov and needs to rediscover his form. Giri has struggled, losing to Wei Yi and squandering a winning position against Keymer.
Women’s Boards: Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli against Hou Yifan and Nino Batsiashvili. Humpy staged a strong comeback on Day 2, while Batsiashvili has been the Pipers’ most consistent performer, winning on both days. This women’s section could determine the match outcome.
Prodigy Board: Bardiya Daneshvar faces Leon Mendonca. Daneshvar was clinical on both days, securing crucial wins, while Mendonca lost a wild game to Sadhwani on Day 2.
What to Expect:
The Mumba Masters have looked the most balanced team through two days, with contributions coming from every section. The Pipers, despite Caruana’s individual brilliance, are 0-2 and running out of time to turn their campaign around. This is effectively an elimination match for the Pipers. The home crowd will be firmly behind the Masters, and the atmosphere at the Royal Opera House should be electric. Expect the Pipers to come out with all guns blazing in a desperate attempt to get on the board.
The Standings Picture
After Day 2, upGrad Mumba Masters and Triveni Continental Kings sit atop the table with perfect 2-0 records and six match points each. Ganges Grandmasters have one win, while FYERS American Gambits have split their matches. At the bottom, PBG Alaskan Knights and Alpine SG Pipers are still searching for their first victories. Day 3 will be crucial in shaping the race for the final spots.
