Overview
- Arjun Erigaisi joined PBG Alaskan Knights to team up with world champion Gukesh after a fierce bidding war at the Mumbai draft.
- American Gambits said they exceeded a 250‑point internal cap by bidding over 300 for Erigaisi but could not match PBG’s full 1,000‑point flexibility.
- With Hikaru Nakamura and Bibisara Assaubayeva retained, the Gambits added Richard Rapport, Vladislav Artemiev, Teodora Injac and prodigy Volodar Murzin.
- Head coach Srinath Narayanan and co‑owner Prachura PP described Murzin—the current World Rapid Chess Champion—as their X‑factor on the prodigy board.
- Season 3 will be staged in Mumbai from December 13–24 with six franchises including American Gambits, PBG Alaskan Knights, Ganges Grandmasters, UpGrad Mumba Masters, Alpine SG Pipers and Triveni Continental Kings.