Faustino Oro and Pranesh M lead 12 titled players in GCL Contenders 2025 Knockout Challengers Round
Argentina’s Faustino Oro and India’s Pranesh M headline 12 Grandmasters and International Masters joining the GCL Contenders 2025 Knockout Challengers Round. Winners will compete for ambassador spots at GCL Season 3 in Mumbai from December 13 to 24.
Hyderabad: Argentina’s Faustino Oro, aka “Messi of Chess,” and Indian chess prodigy Pranesh M headline the list of 12 Grandmasters and International Masters who have joined the GCL Contenders 2025 Knockout Challengers Round, where they will face qualifiers from earlier rounds for three coveted ambassador spots at Global Chess League (GCL) season 3.
The GCL, a joint initiative between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, will take place at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai from December 13 to 24, bringing together some of the sport’s greatest names under one roof. GCL Contenders 2025 will be conducted in collaboration with Chess.com, the league’s official platform partner, ensuring an engaging and seamless experience for players and spectators.
The GCL Contenders 2025 began with over 11,500 players worldwide signing up across three categories—Male, Female, and U21 (Prodigy). After intense battles in 18 rapid arenas, the top performers advanced through the GCL Opens and Titled Knockouts to reach the Challengers stage, now joined by the Grandmasters and International Masters. Over the next phase, the 12 titled players will compete against four online qualifiers across three divisions, with the winners joining the GCL main event as ambassadors.
Gourav Rakshit, Commissioner, Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, said, “GCL Contenders is designed to connect the entire chess ecosystem, from everyday players to professionals, on a single competitive platform. The arrival of Grandmasters and International Masters in this round reflects exactly that spirit. It’s a global, inclusive format that redefines what open competition can mean for the sport.”
Oro, 11, gained global attention after defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in an online blitz match, later becoming the world’s youngest-ever player to cross the 2500 Elo mark in early 2025. He joins the Prodigies (Under-21) section of the Contenders, alongside fellow Indian GM Pranesh M, winner of the Challengers section of the Chennai Grand Masters, Belarusian star Denis Lazavik, and India’s GM Pranav Anand–with the quartet drawn alongside qualifiers Rosh Jain, Gopal Krishna M, Rathina Sabapathi A, and Jvan Saurin Patel, respectively.
Speaking on the draw, Faustino Oro, said,* “It’s exciting to be part of something that connects players from all over the world. I’ve been following the Global Chess League and can’t wait to test myself against strong opponents. I’m looking forward to giving my best in the prodigy section.”
In the Men’s category, Grandmasters Jose Martinez (Mexico), Benjamin Bok (The Netherlands), Andrew Tang (USA), and Abhimanyu Puranik (India) will enter the draw, each set to face one of four qualifiers who advanced through the global Opens and Titled Knockouts: Diptayan Ghosh, Aradhya Garg, Alok Sinha, and Harshal Patel.
In the Women’s section, IM Yuliia Osmak (Ukraine), IM Padmini Rout (India), and IM Mai Narva (Estonia) headline a strong field that also includes qualifiers Mitra Hejazipour (Iran), Rucha Pujari (India), Jesse February (South Africa), Oliwia Kiolbasa (Poland) and Angel Ruth (India), blending international experience and emerging regional talent to give this bracket a distinctly global look.
Commenting on the occasion, Padmini Rout, said, “The GCL Contenders is a fantastic idea. It gives everyone, from rising players to professionals, a chance to compete on the same stage. The format is fresh and competitive, and I’m really looking forward to matching up against some incredible rising women chess stars and seeing how far I can go.”
All matches in the Challengers Knockout will be played in rapid format on Chess.com and streamed on GCL’s official YouTube channel.
Participants will compete under strict fair play protocols, including camera monitoring and anti-cheating measures, ensuring transparency and integrity at every stage.
