The Alpine SG Pipers defeated the reigning champions Triveni Continental Kings in the final of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2025, held in Mumbai. This victory ended the Kings' two-year dominance in the team chess format. Photographer Ashwin Subramanian captured the intense moments of the concluding days.
The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2025 reached its climax on Days 9 and 10 in Mumbai, where tension filled the arena. The PBG Alaskan Knights secured a dominating perfect-score victory over the Alpine SG Pipers, allowing the Pipers to narrowly advance to the finals. The Alaskan Knights then faced the Ganges Grandmasters in tie-breaks to claim third place.
In the grand finale, the two-time champions Triveni Continental Kings clashed with the Alpine SG Pipers. The Pipers dominated through emphatic victories by multiple players, ending the Kings' reign and securing the title. Key moments included Anish Giri, Hou Yifan, and Gukesh absorbing the crowd's energy before the matches began. Gukesh adjusted his pieces in his signature style, while Fabiano Caruana pondered deeply and Leinier Dominguez concentrated amid the chaos.
Notable scenes featured Gukesh discussing a complex line with the Alpine SG Pipers squad, and celebrations by Praggnanandhaa, Anish Giri, coach Pravin Thipsay, and Fabiano Caruana upon reaching the finals. Hou Yifan and Nino Batsiashvili shared a laugh. Vishy Anand engaged in deep meditation during his game and later discussed it collegially. A critical match saw Fabiano Caruana face Alireza Firouzja, where Firouzja's time ran out, leading to a devastating result for the defending champions as confirmed by the arbiter. Vidit Gujrathi immersed himself closely in the board's details.
Ashwin Subramanian, a software engineering manager at Intel and amateur chess player with an online Elo around 2000, documented these events using a Canon EOS R6 Mark 2 with a 100 mm f/2.8 lens. Inspired by photographers like Alina L'Ami and David Llada, he focused on the emotions behind the moves. Subramanian, who became ACO U-1800 World Champion in 2018 and runs the 'Pursue your chess' scholarship in its sixth edition, has covered major chess events including the 2022 and 2024 Olympiads.
As confetti fell and clocks stopped, the Pipers proved worthy champions, highlighting the grit and franchise pride in team chess. The league underscores how chess transforms from a solitary pursuit into a team spectacle.
