Viswanathan Anand’s difficult 2026 Global Chess League campaign continued after he lost to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave on Wednesday. Anand’s PBG Alaskan Knights still defeated the CheQ Mumba Masters 11-6 to stay alive in the race for the top two. The five-time world champion remains without a win in seven games, including five defeats and two draws. His teammate Arjun Erigaisi said Anand has been competing strongly but has suffered from unfortunate moments late in games. The result left the Alaskan Knights fifth in the standings with nine match points and 58 game points.Why Anand Is StrugglingAnand’s results have been disappointing, but Arjun Erigaisi believes they do not fully reflect the quality of his games. The 23-year-old said Anand continues to compete directly against much younger opponents and is not simply being outplayed. According to Arjun, small mistakes and difficult moments near the end of games have repeatedly worked against the veteran.Anand has five defeats and two draws from seven GCL games.He lost to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave on Wednesday.Anand’s Alaskan Knights won the match 11-6.Arjun Erigaisi defeated Pranesh M for three game points.Abhimanyu Mishra was named Player of the Match after beating Bardiya Daneshvar.Anand’s Tough GCL CampaignAnand joined the 2026 GCL season with the PBG Alaskan Knights alongside Arjun Erigaisi and other international players. The team lost its opening match 10-4 against FYERS American Gambits, with Anand also losing his individual game to Javokhir Sindarov.The veteran later produced competitive games against strong opponents, including Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, but results continued to go against him. He had earlier suffered losses against Magnus Carlsen and Sindarov, including a defeat on time against Sindarov. These results contributed to his difficult individual campaign.Also Read: Ben Shelton Stuns Carlos Alcaraz to Reach US Open SemifinalsLatest Result Changes StandingsOn Wednesday, Vachier-Lagrave defeated Anand with the White pieces, but Mumba Masters could not convert that advantage into a team victory. Nino Batsiashvili defeated Carissa Yip on time, while Abhimanyu Mishra secured the decisive win for the Alaskan Knights. The final score was 11-6 in favour of Anand’s team.Arjun explained that Anand’s performances remain inspiring despite the results. He pointed to the importance of analysing mistakes and making small corrections, adding that players often work on specific weaknesses after difficult games.Key HighlightsViswanathan Anand remains without a win after seven GCL games.Maxime Vachier-Lagrave defeated Anand in their Wednesday encounter.PBG Alaskan Knights beat CheQ Mumba Masters 11-6.Arjun Erigaisi defeated Pranesh M on the second board.Abhimanyu Mishra received the Player of the Match award.American Gambits led the table after Wednesday, while Alaskan Knights were fifth.Anand’s GCL SituationAnand’s poor individual record has not stopped the Alaskan Knights from remaining in contention for a top-two finish. Arjun’s comments underline that the veteran is still producing competitive chess against elite opposition. With the league entering its crucial final phase, Anand and his team will need stronger results in their remaining matches.Disclaimer: This article is provided for knowledge and news-information purposes only and does not represent personal analysis or professional advice.
