Rohit Bhandiye
PANAJI
The fourth season of Global Chess League is currently being held in Bengaluru from September 5–13, bringing together the world’s biggest chess stars. The global event brings together six power-packed franchises, fresh team combinations, exciting debutants and fierce rivalries involving 36 players with each franchise comprising of six players.
Among that high profile list of participants is Goa’s very own chess grandmaster Leon Luke Mendonca.
Leon is playing on the prodigy board for the Ganges Grandmasters team. A rising star of Indian chess, 20-year-old Leon is looking forward to surpass his performance of the previous edition. He was part of the Alpine Pipers team last season which had won the league.
In December 2020, the Porvorim boy had become Goa’s second and India’s 67th chess grandmaster at the age of just 14.
But, despite his stupendous achievements, Leon regrets the fact that the Goa government has never provided him with any support.
The Goan spoke to Leon for an exclusive interview.
Your thoughts on playing at Global Chess League
I am very happy to play in the Global Chess League. It's a very good event. A lot of strong players are playing in it and it's a fun event as well because it's a rapid format. This is my second appearance. Last year's experience was very interesting because usually there are not so many high-level rapid events. There was so much media coverage of it as well. And also, I happened to win with my team last year. So, it was a very nice, good experience overall. I played some interesting games.
How was the experience being so far during this edition of Global Chess League
My first game wasn't so great because I was still in classical time format. You know, in chess there are classical rapid events. So, I was still in that mode and I've been playing classical events throughout. So, just to switch back has taken me a bit of time. So, hopefully, today’s second game was decent compared to yesterday. So, hopefully I'm getting back into the groove of rapid. And yeah, it'll go well.
Goa hosted the FIDE Chess World Cup last year in November 2025. Your comments.
It was a very well organised event. Indeed, a proud moment for our state. But, for me personally, the event did not go so well. I was knocked out in the first round itself. For me, it carried the additional home pressure, I guess. And yeah, I did not handle it too well. But it was a good learning experience. So, next time when I play the World Cup, I'm much better prepared for that.
How is the chess scenario in Goa?
We are a small state and I feel we are doing well in chess. We have three chess grandmasters in men and one in women. Besides that, we have five international masters in men and one international woman master. But, for me, personally the journey hasn’t been easy. It's just me and my parents who have gone through this journey. We have received absolutely no support throughout from the Goa government which is very unfortunate. The only sponsorship we got was private sponsorship from Geno Pharmaceuticals. I'm really very grateful to them. And they were the only one from Goa to support me. Outside Goa, it was Micro Sense Networks from Chennai. My whole journey has been a struggle for my parents especially. Because it has not been easy for them. They have sacrificed a lot. My dad left his job just to support my chess career.
Your future goals?
I've come again into the top-100 in the world. My current ELO rating is 2630. So, I want to get to the ELO rating 2700. And then, well, slowly but surely, also get to 2750 and to the top-10 in the world. And then slowly, number one as well.
