World Champion D. Gukesh secured a notable victory over Alireza Firouzja in their reverse fixture at the Global Chess League (GCL) 2025, but it was defending champions Triveni Continental Kings who held on to top spot with a narrow 10-9 win over PBG Alaskan Knights on match day six.
As the third edition of the GCL enters the second leg of its group stage, the Continental Kings had the chance to strengthen their lead over upGrad Mumba Masters, who remain hot on their heels after an 11-6 victory against Ganges Grandmasters.
The Kings faced an early setback when they lost to Alpine SG Pipers, with Firouzja falling to Fabiano Caruana. This made their matchup against the Knights crucial for retaining their advantage in the standings.
Triveni took a strong early position thanks to wins by Alexandra Kosteniuk over Sara Khadem and Wei Yi against Arjun Erigaisi, building a six-point lead. However, Knight Kateryna Lagno kept her side competitive with a four-point haul after defeating Zhu Jiner.
Gukesh, having lost to Firouzja earlier in the tournament, delivered a strong performance with the black pieces to avenge that defeat, winning in a rook-pawn endgame. His win was significant, but it wasn’t enough for the Knights to overtake the Kings.
In the decisive game, Vidit Gujrathi sealed the Kings’ top position by defeating Leinier Dominguez in 39 moves, earning the Player of the Match award and ensuring Triveni stay atop the leaderboard with 15 match points.
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