Mumba Masters, owned by sports business group U Mumba, has named upGrad, an integrated learning skilling and workforce development company, as its title partner for the inaugural Global Chess League.
Following its participation in Pro Kabaddi and Ultimate Table Tennis, U Mumba has further expanded its footprint in the sporting canvass on the global stage by fielding a team of chess Grandmasters in the first edition of the GCL.
“We are thrilled to have upGrad onboard as our title partner of our Mumba Masters. This partnership marks an important milestone for U Mumba as we venture into the international chess arena and upGrad’s vision of empowering individuals aligns perfectly with our vision of nurturing talent and promoting sport at the highest level. This association will allow us to engage with the youth and create opportunities for talented individuals to shine in the world of chess. The team is looking forward to a long, dynamic partnership and taking the GCL by storm,” said, Suhail Chandhok, CEO – U Mumba.
As part of the One-year franchisee deal, the team logo will be carried on the tournament jersey and shall be worn by the six powerful players including Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli (Superstar Women), Alexander Grischuk and Vidit Gujrathi (Superstar Men), Javokhir Sindarov (Prodigy) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Icon).
Commenting on the development, Mayank Kumar, Co-Founder and MD, upGrad, said, “Chess is more than just a game; it embodies discipline, resilience, and perseverance; something that upGrad continues to foster amongst its every single learner. It is because of our seriousness, that we have continued to outlast with an outcome-oriented pedagogy and robust business model. And as this partnership progresses, we will continue to inspire individuals to remain committed to their passion that drives them to do better every day. We have built a very strong brand name in upGrad that resonates with the learning needs of the global workforce, and therefore, took a conscious call to represent a sport that fosters critical thinking and problem-solving
“We take this as our calling to transcend from a trusted Lifelong Learning partner to a trusted household name,” Kumar added.
GCL tournaments are scheduled to take place through the next 10 days starting today in Dubai (UAE) with upGrad Mumba Masters taking on as an opener against Triveni Continental Kings.