Richard Rapport… three seasons, three teams!
| Photo Credit: FIDE
Richard Rapport played for different teams in the first two editions of the Global Chess League. And it is not going to be any different in the third season!
The 29-year-old from Hungary is playing for American Gambits in this year’s league, which kicks off in Mumbai on December 14. He had represented Alpine SG Pipers in the first year and Ganges Grandmasters in the second.
Rapport is hoping it would be third time lucky at the GCL. “We hope to play the final and win the tournament,” the World No. 13 told The Hindu over the phone on Wednesday.
“My teams were good but could not play the final. Last year in London, we had players like Magnus Carlsen, Hou Yifan and R. Praggnanandhaa, and we played very well too, but the results weren’t there.”
He is glad to be part of the GCL. “I like its concept, and the way the teams are formed, including men and women,” said Rapport, who was the second of Ding Liren in his World title match against D. Gukesh last year. “The way the matches are held is also nice: the games are not played simultaneously, so all of us could follow what is happening on each board.”
Looking back at his experience at the GCL, he said he enjoyed it. “Every chess tournament I have played recently had some minor issues, but GCL was very smooth overall,” he said. “So overall, it was also very nice. I must admit I had a nicer time in Dubai, but I played better in London.”
This is going to be Rapport’s second visit to India. The first was for the recent Chess World Cup in Goa. “My performance was a bit below my own expectations at the World Cup,” he said. “It was nice to see so many people turning up to watch the World Cup and the players. Chess can attract a lot of people, who could watch their favourite players from close in, without the help of binoculars, which you will need for games like football.”
Published – December 10, 2025 06:19 pm IST
