Mumba Masters have entered into a three-season title sponsorship agreement with fintech company CheQ, with the franchise set to compete as CheQ Mumba Masters from the fourth season of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League.
The partnership represents a significant commercial commitment to the franchise and will see CheQ become an integral part of the team’s identity throughout the agreement. The collaboration will extend beyond naming rights, with the two organisations set to develop fan engagement initiatives, digital activations, player interactions and programmes aimed at broadening participation in chess.
The agreement comes as chess continues to strengthen its position within India’s rapidly expanding sports and entertainment ecosystem. For CheQ, the partnership provides access to a growing, digitally engaged audience, while Mumba Masters gain a multi-year commercial partner as the Global Chess League continues to establish its international footprint.
Suhail Chandhok, CEO, CheQ Mumba Masters, said, “Chess is a sport built on strategy, patience and the ability to remain focused on the present while thinking several moves ahead; values that strongly resonate with what we are building at Mumba Masters. Our multi-year partnership with CheQ is an exciting step in that journey. Starting with GCL Season 4, we look forward to building a meaningful association that goes beyond branding, creates greater engagement with our existing fans and introduces new audiences to the sport, further strengthening our shared commitment to the continued growth of chess in India.”
Aditya Soni, Founder and CEO, CheQ, added, “Chess in India is going through an incredible phase, with more energy and excitement around the sport than ever before. We are thrilled to partner with Mumba Masters and be part of this momentum. They have a fantastic team, and we cannot wait to see them in action this season and celebrate the game with India’s growing community of chess fans.”
Mumba Masters were among the six founding franchises of the Global Chess League in 2023 and reached the inaugural final in their debut campaign before finishing as runners-up to Triveni Continental Kings.
The new partnership comes ahead of GCL Season 4, which will be held in Bengaluru from September 5 to 13. The six-team competition will feature 36 players in its mixed-team format, bringing together leading international and Indian players.
Among the headline names are Magnus Carlsen and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, alongside Indian stars including Viswanathan Anand. CheQ Mumba Masters will be led by French grandmaster Vachier-Lagrave, while Indian Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli will also feature for the franchise.
With Bengaluru serving as both the host city for Season 4 and CheQ’s headquarters, the partnership creates an additional local-market connection while giving the fintech brand a prominent platform within one of India’s fastest-growing sporting properties.
