Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri arrived at the second edition of the Global Chess League (GCL) in October 2024 in a state of severe professional crisis. His Elo rating had plummeted from 2746 to 2724 in just one month, a drop that pushed him out of the world's top 20 rankings for the first time in a decade. The last comparable low was in December 2012, at 2720.
A League of Redemption: Finding Form in Team Chess
Ironically, the catalyst for his remarkable comeback was not a traditional classical tournament but the innovative team-based Global Chess League. "I came in with really low confidence," Giri confessed in an exclusive interview. Facing elite opponents as the icon player for his team, he felt like the "weakest link," fearing he would drag his strong teammates down. Yet, the GCL experience became a pivotal turning point, helping him break a cycle of self-doubt. His subsequent resurgence, culminating in qualification for the Candidates 2026 via a dominant win at the FIDE Grand Swiss, has firmly re-established him in the world's top 10.
London Tales: Spice Wars, Traffic & The iPhone Mutiny
Beyond the board, Giri's memories of GCL 2024 are filled with lighter, human moments. He laughs recalling the team's "spice wars" over food arranged during long playing sessions. "Some are saying this is not spicy. Some are saying this is crazy spicy. Some are saying I'm dying from how hot it is," he described the constant debates. Navigating London's notorious traffic with his team also became a unique bonding ritual.
The most humorous episode involved an attempted "iPhone mutiny" within his former team, PBG Alaskan Knights. Joking in a WhatsApp group, players threatened to boycott games if performance-based iPhone rewards weren't delivered. "Of course, it was a joke. But we finally did get the iPhones. So I don't know how much of a joke it was," Giri added with a grin, despite the team finishing as runners-up.
Inside the Elite Mind: Team Spirit & 'Game Modes'
Giri also shed light on the often-misunderstood social dynamics of elite chess. He explained that team spirit isn't innate for players who spend careers in solitary combat. He gave the example of teammate Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who maintained a strict, solitary tournament routine throughout the event.
He humorously observed that many top players, including World Champion D Gukesh, have distinct "modes." "When Gukesh is at Vidit's wedding, he is a different person than when he is playing the second round of Wijk aan Zee," Giri noted, highlighting the stark switch between their competitive and social personas.
Gearing Up for GCL Season 3 & Beyond
Now, as GCL Season 3 approaches at The Royal Opera House from December 14 to 23, Giri will represent the Alpine SG Pipers. He views the league as the perfect preparation for the fast-paced FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha immediately after. "I've been focusing fully on classical... I will need to warm up. I am expecting maybe a turbulent start in GCL, but I'm gonna try to warm up for the rapid and blitz again," he stated, acknowledging the shift in mindset required for the back-to-back events.
