Wesley So Adds Firepower to UpGrad Mumba Masters Core of MVL, Humpy and Harika Ahead of GCL 2025

POSTED BY MRUNALI, 3 OCTOBER 2025

Mumbai,( RMN ): UpGrad Mumba Masters made a statement at the Global Chess League (GCL) 2025 Draft & Auction by signing Grandmaster Wesley So for 270 points, resisting challenges from multiple franchises to secure the Filipino-American star. A debutant in the GCL, Wesley So is renowned as a giant-killer, having beaten Magnus Carlsen three times in classical play, and most recently Gukesh, now adds firepower to an already formidable Mumba Masters core.

The signing of Wesley So strengthens a lineup anchored by French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL), retained as the team’s ICON Player, alongside India’s trailblazing women superstars Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. Together, the quartet blends international pedigree with Indian excellence, giving the squad a balanced and fearsome core ahead of the season.

On securing his favoured pick, Suhail Chandhok, CEO, upGrad Mumba Masters, said: “We wanted to retain the core of our squad, and we managed to do that with Harika, Humpy, and MVL. We had most boxes ticked. One thing on our mind was to get one of our top picks from male superstars, and we got our top pick, Wesley So.”

At the draft, Mumba Masters further added depth to its roster by picking Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), one of the world’s most dynamic and creative Grandmasters, and Bardiya Daneshvar (Iran), a teenage prodigy widely regarded as one of the brightest upcoming talents in world chess.

Pentala Harikrishna, Team Captain: I am excited to be the Team Captain for the Mumba Masters. We have managed to get a balanced team in the auction. I know most of the players in the squad on a personal level and I have played alongside them in the past too. This is my first season at the Global Chess League and I am looking forward to the event.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Icon Player (retained): I am grateful for our team’s effort to prepare for the auction today. We formed a roster that’s very solid with all players that were retained, including Harika, Humpy and myself. But foremost I am very optimistic with the aftermath of the auction. With the inclusion of Wesley, Shakh and Daneshvar, our team has a lot of experience and is ready to face the tough challenge that is awaiting us. I am confident of our team this season and hopefully that brings us the dividends as we go into season 3 of the GCL.

With Wesley So’s debut, MVL’s consistency, the proven brilliance of Humpy and Harika, and the flair of Mamedyarov and Bardiya, UpGrad Mumba Masters will enter GCL 2025 with one of the most exciting squads in the league, ready to thrill fans and set new benchmarks for chess as a spectator sport.

*Final Squad* – UpGrad Mumba Masters, GCL 2025:: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) – ICON (Retained), Wesley So (USA) – Superstar Men (Auction Pick), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) – Superstar Men (Auction Pick), Koneru Humpy (India) – Superstar Women (Retained), Harika Dronavalli (India) – Superstar Women (Retained), Bardiya Daneshvar (Iran) – Prodigy (Auction Pick)