Former UFC stars, rising prospects and world champions will feature on the Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua undercard on December 19 in Miami.
Quality US Olympian Jahmal Harvey, a Paris 2024 quarter-finalist, will open the main card when he has his second professional contest against fellow undefeated prospect Kevin Cervantes.
“I’m looking to seize the moment and make a big statement to kick off the main card,” Harvey said. “Being on the main card of Jake vs Joshua is a massive stage and platform to showcase my talent and really introduce Jahmal Harvey to the world.”
UFC legend Anderson “The Spider” Silva will return to boxing to take on Tyron Woodley, a former UFC champion himself, in a six-round cruiserweight bout.
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Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul come face-to-face for the first time ahead of their fight in Miami on December 19.
“I believe that change always happens for a reason,” Silva said. “I am focused on doing a good job. Always respecting my opponent and showing total respect to the boxing world.”
The chief support will be Alycia Baumgardner making a unified WBA, WBO, and IBF world title defence at 130lbs against Canada’s highly-ranked contender Leila Beaudoin.
Baumgardner vs Beaudoin will be contested over 12 three-minute rounds, equal to the men’s championship standard.
Also on the bill Cherneka Johnson will make an undisputed WBO, WBA, WBC, and IBF world title defence at 118lbs against Amanda Galle.
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Jake Paul calls for a fight against Tyson Fury in 2026 in his press conference ahead of his fight against Anthony Joshua. Credit: MVP/Netflix
Costa Rican starYokasta Valle is set to defend her WBC strawweight world title against Yadira “La Reina” Bustillos and MVP’s top contender Avious “Tha Underdog” Griffin boxes Justin Cardona in a welterweight eight-rounder.
Two-time Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley will make his pro debut over four rounds in the cruiserweight division against American Diarra Davis Jr.
Britain’s Shannon Courtenay, the former WBA titlist who came from the same Finchley amateur club as Joshua, will box during the fight week in a sanctioned bout against Jessica Radtke Maltez at the public workouts.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has written to employees acknowledging the severe disruptions that have hit the airline in recent days, conceding that IndiGo “could not live up to the promise” of providing a good travel experience to passengers. The carrier has seen more than 300 flight cancellations on Thursday alone, with scores of services delayed as operational challenges mounted.
IndiGo Crisis: Inside Pilot Shortage, Rule Change and Winter Delays Behind Over 200 Cancellations
In the internal message, Elbers said the past few days had been “difficult for many of our IndiGo customers and colleagues”, noting that the airline serves close to 3.8 lakh customers daily but had failed to meet expectations.“We could not live up to that promise these past days and we have publicly apologised for that,” he said.Elbers attributed the crisis to a mix of “minor technology glitches, schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, heightened congestion in the aviation ecosystem, and the implementation of the newly released FDTL norms”, which “compounded negatively to create a cascading impact on our operations”. He expressed gratitude to pilots, cabin crew, engineers, OCC, customer support, digital teams and airport staff who have been working “tirelessly to manage the situation, minimise the impact, and restore stability as quickly as possible”.As per PTI, IndiGo’s on-time performance had plunged to 19.7 per cent on December 3, underlining the scale of the disruption. Elbers told staff that given the size and complexity of IndiGo’s network, disruptions “grow large immediately” and require interventions at multiple levels. “Our immediate goal is to normalise our operations and bring punctuality back on track in the coming days, which is not an easy target,” he wrote.The DGCA has summoned IndiGo’s senior management to explain the unprecedented nationwide disruptions and present a corrective plan. The airline has already initiated “calibrated adjustments” to its schedules for the next 48 hours to stabilise operations, according to its official statement.Elbers, in his letter, urged employees to come together as one team, recalling how IndiGo recently completed the upgrade of 200 A320 aircraft within 24 hours. “I am confident we all can deal with this challenge too… Together, as one team, we will overcome this challenge and emerge even stronger,” he said.
Suthisak Rintalak was killed during the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attack and his body was taken to Gaza
Israel says the remains of a hostage it received from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) via the Red Cross in Gaza on Wednesday have been identified as belonging to Thai agricultural worker Suthisak Rintalak.
The return of the 43-year-old’s body means that only one more dead hostage’s body due to be handed over under the terms of the ceasefire deal now remains in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli government shared “in the deep sorrow of the Rintalak family, the Thai people, and all of [the] fallen hostages’ families”.
It also vowed to work tirelessly to bring home the body of the last hostage, Israeli police officer Master Sgt Ran Gvili, 24.
Suthisak Rintalak was from the town of Rattanawapi in north-eastern Thailand.
He moved to Israel in 2017 as part of a foreign worker programme and was employed on several farms in communities located near the Gaza border, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel.
Israeli and Thai authorities say he had been in the orchards of Kibbutz Be’eri when he was killed in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. His body was then taken to Gaza and held hostage by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
His mother, On, told Israeli Army Radio that it was “hard for us to digest the news” after being informed that his body had been recovered by PIJ fighters in northern Gaza.
“Two years have passed,” she said. “We felt great sadness when we knew he was no longer among the living.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote on X: “For 789 painful days, Suthisak was held hostage in Gaza. His family back in Thailand have waited in agony for his return. Now, Suthisak can finally be laid to rest with dignity.”
“Hamas’s cruelty continues. Ran Gvili, a police officer who fought and fell heroically on October 7th, is still being held hostage in Gaza. When we say we won’t stop until every last hostage is home, we mean it.”
A spokesperson for Thailand’s foreign ministry thanked the Israeli government for the assistance that led to the return of all 31 Thai nationals who were among the 251 people taken hostage during the 7 October attack. Another 39 Thai nationals were among the 1,200 people killed that day.
Israel responded to the attack by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 70,100 people have been killed, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Reuters
Palestinian Islamic Jihad said it had found the body of a hostage in northern Gaza
Under the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire deal, which took effect on 10 October, Hamas agreed to return the 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of the 28 dead Israeli and foreign hostages still in Gaza within 72 hours.
All the living hostages were released on 13 October in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.
So far, the remains of 23 dead Israeli hostages have been handed over, along with those of four foreign hostages – two of them Thai, one Nepalese and one Tanzanian.
In exchange, Israel has handed over the bodies of 345 Palestinians killed during the war.
The seven-week-old ceasefire has continued to look shaky, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of repeated violations.
On Wednesday night, an Israeli air strike killed five Palestinians, including two children, at a camp for displaced families in the al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza, a hospital said.
Israel’s military said it targeted a “Hamas terrorist” in retaliation for an earlier attack by Hamas fighters in the Rafah area that wounded five Israeli soldiers.
Hamas said the Israeli strike constituted a “clear war crime”.
Speaking to journalists at the White House, US President Donald Trump said the next stage of his Gaza peace plan – which includes plans for the post-war governance, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction – was “going to happen pretty soon”.
“They had a problem today, I understand, with a bomb that went off,” Trump said. “Hurt some people pretty badly… But it’s going very well. We have peace in the Middle East. People don’t realise it.”
Ellie Goulding has broken her silence on her second pregnancy after revealing her baby bump on the red carpetCredit: SplashThe popstar, 38, is expecting her first child with toyboy Beau MinniearCredit: InstagramStarry Eyed singer Ellie told how she was ‘so grateful’ to attend the event in her bump flashing attireCredit: Splash
Now the mum-to-be, who is also parent to son Arthur, has taken to her Instagram page following her reveal.
She posted a series of snaps from the night, which saw her pair her bump-revealing attire with a longline black coat, heels and sunglasses, alongside a happy caption.
The chart star wrote: “So grateful to have attended the Fashion Awards with the visionary @willychavarria, wearing a look that was a little bit custom, a little bit archive.
“Only on a night like this, could Willy be the one to empower me and make me feel my absolute bestttt.
“Thank you for a night filled with meaning, beauty, and so much heart x
“Congratulations @willychavarria and @laura_weir @britishfashioncouncil for a special night celebrating creativity like no other.”
Her famous mates were quick to remark on her happy news and Jessie J wrote: “Fav fit of the night congratulations queen. You are beaming x”
Brooks Nader added: “MY QUEEN!!!!! AUNTIE B READY.”
BABY REVEAL
The Love Me Like You Do singer Ellie first showed off her bump at the Fashion Awards on December 1 following a whirlwind romance with 28 year-old hunk Beau.
She already has a son named Arthur, four, from her marriage to art dealer Caspar Jopling.
The Sun first revealed in July how she had secretly been on a string of dates with Beau, who has had a series of small acting roles in independent movies and a handful of US TV series’.
At the time, a source said: “Ellie is into Beau and they have a lot of shared interests like exercise and art.
“They’ve been having fun together and they certainly make for an attractive couple.”
Since then they have been spotted together on dates and he has shared loved-up photos with her on Instagram.
She wed Caspar in August 2019 but they announced their separation in February 2024.
Ellie, who is one of the most successful British female singers of the 21st century with 43billion streams, released her fifth album Higher Than Heaven in 2023 and has since been working on a new project.
She said she felt ’empowered’ in her outfit and feeling her ‘absolute best’Credit: SplashBeau is an indie film starCredit: GettyEllie’s famous mates were quick to congratulate her on her baby newsCredit: Instagram
Defence minister Rajnath Singh with Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov (Image credits: ANI)
NEW DELHI: India on Thursday sent out a strong signal about the continuity of its partnership with Russia, with defence minister Rajnath Singh emphasising that bilateral defence cooperation remains steady “despite the geopolitical uncertainty.” His remarks came at the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) meeting in New Delhi, held just hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for the 23rd Annual Summit.
Trump Makes Bombshell Remark As Russian President Visits India
Singh described Russia as a “time-tested, special privileged, and strategic partner” and noted that defence ties have grown consistently since the signing of the 2000 Declaration of the India-Russia Strategic Partnership. “I thank you very much for coming all the way to India to discuss and promote bilateral defence cooperation between our countries… It is good that despite the geopolitical uncertainty, our India-Russia defence cooperation is moving at a healthy pace,” he said, as quoted by ANI.He highlighted “outcome-oriented exchanges” between military personnel and experts and also pointed to wider economic engagement.“We welcome the successful holding of the 26th meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Moscow last month, and the commencement of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union,” Singh said. He added, “We were also eagerly awaiting the visit of His Excellency, Vladimir Putin… which has been fulfilled today.”
Russia’s message at the defence commission meeting
Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov, co-chairing the meeting with Singh, echoed the sentiment of long-standing partnership.Belousov also noted the extent of military cooperation. “Russia actively cooperates in full scale with India in formation of the new outlook of the Army, Air Force, and the Navy. And using this opportunity, let me congratulate you, the command, and all Indian sailors with the National Navy Day,” he said.On the work of the joint commission, he added, “Distinguished Minister, the intergovernmental commission on military and military-technical cooperation brings the huge dedication in taking part in taking effective and mutually beneficial decisions in the military domain.”
Setting the stage for PM Modi–Putin summit
Earlier in the day, Singh and Belousov laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, and the Russian minister inspected the Tri-Service Guard of Honour. Belousov was received at Air Force Station Palam by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan also present.Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive in India on Thursday evening for his first visit in four years, beginning the trip with a private dinner hosted by PM Modi. The two leaders have spoken by phone five times in 2024 and last met in person on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin.Putin’s arrival marks his first trip to India since 2021 and his first since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022.His return to New Delhi comes as the India–Russia partnership continues to adjust to shifting global dynamics, balancing long-standing defence ties with cooperation in technology, energy transition, education, and workforce mobility.
How Republicans are coming after Pete HegsethPete Hegseth entered Donald Trump’s second administration as one of its most trusted loyalists — a Fox News star turned defence secretary who promised to bring ideological clarity, forceful military action and a Trump-first worldview to the Pentagon. Ten months later, the Republican establishment that backed him is now turning on him.The reason is not a policy disagreement or a partisan fight. It is a lethal operation in Latin America, a second strike that killed two survivors, and a growing belief among Republicans that the Pentagon under Hegseth has become secretive, erratic, and unwilling to answer basic questions. What began as frustration inside classified briefings has escalated into the most serious internal revolt of Trump’s second term.Here’s what is driving the backlash.
The boat strike that triggered the revolt
Everything changed after a US strike on 2 September against a suspected drug-smuggling vessel. The first missile killed most of the people onboard. Two survived, clinging to wreckage. Minutes later, a second strike killed them too.Republican lawmakers expected clear answers about why the second strike was authorised and whether it complied with the law of armed conflict. Instead, Pentagon officials arrived without lawyers, could not explain the legal framework, and struggled to describe even the basic decision chain behind the mission.For many Republicans, the absence of transparency was more alarming than the operation itself. The sentiment leaving the room was blunt: “We can’t get straight answers from our own defence secretary.”
Why Republicans say their patience has run out
Hegseth’s problems did not begin with the boat strike. For months, Republicans on key committees have complained privately that he has:
cut Congress out of major decisions
ignored oversight requests
rejected established consultation norms
centralised decision-making around a small inner circle
The September operation simply turned long-standing irritation into open confrontation. Senior Republicans who once defended Hegseth now say confidence in his leadership has eroded. Others refuse to say publicly whether they still back him — a Washington signal that support is slipping.The pattern they see is not one bad call, but a defence secretary who treats Congress as optional.
The Bradley question and its political danger
The spotlight now extends to Adm Frank Bradley, the commander who oversaw the operation. He is expected to argue that the survivors remained legitimate targets and could have retrieved narcotics floating in the water or alerted accomplices.Republicans want to know whether Bradley acted independently or followed a verbal directive to ensure “no survivors.” They are demanding full surveillance video and communication logs to determine precisely what happened — and whether the Pentagon’s public explanations match the footage.If inconsistencies emerge, the political damage will expand from Bradley to Hegseth, and from Hegseth to the White House.
A wider pattern making Republicans uneasy
Beyond the boat strike and the transparency issues, Hegseth has alarmed Republicans with several decisions:
A purge of senior military officers
A controversial Pentagon investigation into a sitting senator
A unilateral withdrawal of a US brigade from Romania without consulting Congress
Repeated delays in providing legally required information
Each episode strained Republican confidence. Combined, they created a perception that the Pentagon is operating without guardrails.The boat strike became the moment Republicans decided that silence carried its own political risks.
Why Republicans are coming after him now
The backlash is driven by three urgent concerns:Legal exposureIf the second strike is ultimately judged unlawful, Congress cannot appear to have ignored it. Some Republicans want to be seen as correcting, not enabling, the Pentagon.Operational credibilityA defence secretary who cannot explain a major mission weakens support for ongoing operations across Latin America and elsewhere.Political insulationRepublicans know the fallout could extend to Trump himself. Distancing early is a standard Washington survival tactic. This is why even usually loyal lawmakers are sharpening their tone.
What happens next
Republican-led committees are preparing deeper inquiries, more hearings, and broader evidence requests. If the surveillance footage contradicts public statements, the consequences could rapidly escalate.Hegseth may survive, but his authority has already been weakened. For the first time in Trump’s second term, Republicans are signalling that a cabinet official may be expendable — even one who entered office as a MAGA favourite.The message from Capitol Hill is clear: the Pentagon cannot run on loyalty alone.
Jailed teacher Rebecca Joynes, 31, was described as causing ‘enormous damage’ to two pupils at a professional conduct hearing.
Rebecca Joynes(Image: GMP)
Imprisoned paedophile teacher Rebecca Joynes has shunned a special conduct hearing which heard today that she inflicted ‘enormous damage’ on two students.
Joynes, 31, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in July for engaging in sexual relations with two pupils. She lured one 15 year old lad with a trip to the Trafford Centre, purchasing him a £345 Gucci belt from Selfridges.
She subsequently became pregnant by another teenage student, with whom she also initiated a sexual relationship when he was 15. Joynes was convicted of six counts of sexual activity with a child, including two counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust following a trial at Manchester Crown Court.
The offences involved two teenage boys she encountered through her role as a teacher at a Greater Manchester school. The identities of the boys and the school are protected by law and cannot be disclosed.
Today (Thursday December 4, 2025), a professional conduct panel hearing was being held to examine her behaviour. Joynes, who remains incarcerated, was invited to participate in the remote hearing but declined to do so and had no one to represent her interests, the panel was informed, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Shirley Duckworth, representing the Teaching Regulation Agency, told the panel that Joynes’ convictions were ‘of the utmost severity’ and highlighted her ‘lack of engagement’ in conduct panel proceedings.
Ms Duckworth stated that Joynes had ‘committed sexual offences against two boys she had direct contact with in the course of her profession’.
Detailing her misconduct against one of the victims, referred to as Pupil A, Ms Duckworth highlighted that the teacher had committed an ‘abuse of trust’. She also noted the trial judge’s remarks on the ‘significant disparity’ in their ages.
Furthermore, she had ‘deleted’ the contents of her phone when an investigation was initiated, added Ms Duckworth.
Her offences against the second boy, known as Pupil B, were marked by ‘grooming and an abuse of trust’, stated Ms Duckworth.
She pointed out that ‘the most serious’ element of the misconduct against Pupil B was that it occurred while she was on bail for crimes against Pupil A.
The hearing was informed that Joynes, a maths teacher, was sacked for gross misconduct in July 2022 following her initial court appearance.
Ms Duckworth mentioned that police visited the school where Joynes taught in 2021 and notified the headteacher about an ongoing investigation into allegations involving Pupil A, prompted by a complaint to Childline.
The barrister stated that Joynes couldn’t deny a relationship with Pupil B due to the ‘existence of a child’, which she described as a ‘significant aggravating feature’.
‘It’s right to identify Miss Joynes as a paedophile’
Ms Duckworth commented that the ‘notion of a Mrs Robinson figure’ is one that ‘permeates’, but she continued to say that her crimes against the two boys had a ‘lasting impact’.
She mentioned that fatherhood was ‘thrust upon’ Pupil B, who she quoted as saying: “I will forever be Rebecca’s victim and will be forever be linked to her through our child.”
The acquisition of a £345 Gucci belt, she continued, was a ‘manipulative form of flattery’, adding that Pupil B had ‘felt deceived by a teacher she should have been able to trust’.
She further stated: “It’s right to identify Miss Joynes as a paedophile.”
She asserted it was ‘inconceivable’ that Joynes wasn’t aware she was doing something wrong, adding: “The damage done here is enormous.”
The conduct panel, led by Phil Thompson, commenced shortly after 9am on Thursday. The panel is determining whether Joynes’ behaviour constitutes ‘unacceptable conduct’ and if it tarnishes the reputation of the teaching profession.
If so, it will then proceed to a private session to decide whether to recommend a ‘prohibition order’ to the secretary of state.
The hearing was ongoing today, with the panel expected to announce its findings on Thursday afternoon.
Joynes was sentenced in July at Manchester Crown Court where her two victims were referred to as Boy A and Boy B in press coverage of the proceedings.
The court heard how she took Boy A to the Trafford Centre and purchased him a £345 Gucci belt from Selfridges, before taking him back to her flat in Salford, where they engaged in sexual activity.
She was suspended from her position and was later found to be pregnant with a second boy – Boy B – whom she met when he was 15 years old, leading to them sharing a kiss.
The relationship escalated to a sexual level, resulting in Joynes becoming pregnant and giving birth to his child. This occurred despite her telling him that due to a health issue, it was ‘almost impossible’ for her to conceive.
He discovered her pregnancy during a planned ‘date night’, complete with rose petals and love notes. She also presented him with a baby grow bearing the words ‘I love my daddy to the moon and back’.
A victim statement read on behalf of Boy B stated: “I was coerced, controlled and sexually abused, it was very upsetting this happened to me and I had little to no support from organisations.
“For months after the abuse it was a very dark time. I felt backed into a corner, I had just lived a double life for 18 months, and it had a massive mental toll on me and my family.
“It tore my family apart, they struggled to come to terms with the fact they brought me to school which was supposed to be a safe environment. My parents broke down every day and night.”
Joynes, who has no previous convictions, denied the offences at trial. Over several days of giving evidence, she refuted any sexual activity with the first boy, but admitted she ‘liked the attention’ he gave her.
When questioned about why she took him to the Trafford Centre before allowing him to stay at her flat, she responded: “I was stupid, I don’t know.”
Regarding the second lad, she insisted nothing occurred between them until he’d turned 16 and after her dismissal from her post. She maintained she was ‘in love with’ the teenager and their relationship stemmed from a ‘strong friendship’.
The jury was presented with a letter in which she’d written to the boy stating ‘every inch of you is perfect’.
Joynes informed the court that just 24 hours following their baby’s birth, the child was ‘taken away’ from her. Throughout proceedings, she kept a baby’s bonnet tucked into her trousers.
Her defence barrister, Michael O’Brien, explained his client battles anxiety and depression, and had been deemed ’emotionally fragile’ by the probation service.
“The defendant understands her own conduct has seen her miss out on the early years of her baby’s life. The baby will miss out on very important contact with her mother. The defendant understands that’s entirely of her making – and it’s not the baby’s fault,” he stated.
“The shorter the time, the better for the baby,” the barrister continued. He described how the infant was removed from her at birth and it proved ‘harrowing’ for Joynes.
Passing sentence, Judge Kate Cornell accused her of demonstrating ‘breathtaking arrogance’, stating: “You have shown an unwilling inability to face up to wrongdoing. This does you no favours, Ms Joynes.
“You were the adult, the one in control and should have known better. You were trusted by the school, the boys and the parents – for caring and protecting their sons. You abused that trust and exploited that role for your sexual gratification. It is inconceivable you did not realise that too.
“You deliberately transgressed them and encouraged boys to breach that too. You turned a blind eye.”
Joynes, from Pensby Avenue, the Wirral, received a prison sentence of six-and-a-half years. Restraining orders were issued against both boys.
Joynes will be on the Sex Offender Register for life.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said his five-hour talks with U.S. envoys on ending the war in Ukraine were “necessary” and “useful” but also “difficult work,” with some of the proposals unacceptable to the Kremlin.
Putin spoke to the India Today TV channel ahead of his visit to New Delhi on Thursday, and while the full interview is yet to be broadcast, Russian state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti quoted some of Putin’s remarks.
The Russian leader’s comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are set to meet with Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, on Thursday in Miami for further talks, according to a senior Trump administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The high-stakes talks are part of Trump’s renewed push to end the nearly four-year war. The peace effort has recently gathered steam, even though reconciling Russia’s and Ukraine’s “red lines” still appears to be an uphill battle.
Trump said Wednesday that Witkoff and Kushner came away from their marathon session with Putin in the Kremlin confident that he wants to find an end to the war.
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“Their impression was very strongly that he’d like to make a deal,” Trump said.
Tass quoted Putin as saying in the interview that at the talks in the Kremlin, the sides “had to go through each point” of the U.S. peace proposal, “which is why it took so long.”
“This was a necessary conversation, a very concrete one,” the Russian president said.
There were provisions that Moscow said it was ready to discuss, while others “we can’t agree to,” Putin said.
NEW DELHI: Coming into the second edition of the Global Chess League (GCL) last year in October, the current Dutch No. 1 Anish Giri had a turbulent time. In the span of one month, his ratings dropped drastically from 2746 to 2724.To put things into perspective, the last time his rating had dipped this low was all the way back in December 2012, when he briefly touched 2720. This time, though, the slide hurt more: for the first time in ten years, Giri had tumbled out of the world’s top 20.
Anish Giri Exclusive: FIDE World Cup in Goa, Candidates 2026 prep, GCL stories, and more
The drop demanded a turnaround. Oddly enough, it arrived not in the old-school halls of classical chess but in a fledgling event trying to plant its flag: the Global Chess League (GCL).“I came in with really low confidence,” Giri told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive chat. “And then I saw the lineup; I was on the icon board, facing the absolute best. My team was super strong, and I felt like the weakest link at that moment. I genuinely worried I’d pull them down. GCL ended up being one of the big turning points for me.”
The spice wars of London
Giri can’t keep his laughter away when asked about the memories that immediately spring up. Not the time scramble against Alireza Firouzja. Not the nail-biting final. But… food.“One thing that now comes to mind was with the food,” he revealed.“Because sometimes you would play during the day, and it was like lunchtime. We would go to the game and stay there for many hours, and we could get hungry there. So we would get some food arranged for us.
“It was always a challenge to try to get a good level of spice. There were always these arguments between the team members. Some are saying this is not spicy. Some are saying this is crazy spicy. Some are saying I’m dying from how hot it is.”With the second edition of GCL held in London, traffic became part of the routine, too.“It was kind of an interesting experience,” he said. “Just overall with the team, how we would travel through London to the playing hall and the traffic of London. Sometimes you get stuck in there, and it was good vibes.”
The Great iPhone Revolt (almost)
Among all the stories, one that stands out as instant GCL folklore is the attempted “iPhone mutiny”.Before the season even began, PBG Alaskan Knights, Giri’s previous team, had promised performance-based rewards. But before they were handed out, the players began joking in the team WhatsApp group.
“There was a running joke between the team members behind the back of our team captain that we are going to refuse to show up if we don’t get the iPhone promised,” Giri remembered. “So we had this thing that we’re going to revolt as players. And if they don’t give us the iPhone, we are not coming to the game.”Despite the Knights settling for a runners-up finish, the gifts did arrive.“Of course, it was a joke. But we finally did get the iPhones. So I don’t know how much of a joke it was,” Giri added with a grin.
The quiet side of elite chess players
One stereotype about chess players has existed for generations: they live in their heads. They don’t talk much.Giri doesn’t deny it.“It depends on players and depends on the setting,” the 31-year-old Grandmaster told this website. “Different tournaments, different moods, different stages of career. I knew some players that at certain periods, we were very friendly with each other, then for some reason, we were less friendly for a period. It is complex in that sense.”Team spirit is something footballers or basketball players are raised with; chess players, on the other hand, spend most of their lives fighting alone at a board.“In chess, team events are occasionally there, and usually most events are individual,” he explained. “So you are not really taught team spirit or team bonding. In chess, it’s not common. And occasionally in a team event, you do miss the whole team bonding.”
Giri cited Nodirbek Abdusattorov as an example from last season’s GCL.“He has his own very strict routine: when he eats, what he eats, where he eats. I think we almost never ate together, like never on the same table, as far as I can remember. And that’s fine. He stays in that tournament mode, in that zone,” he added.
The ‘D Gukesh modes’
One of the funniest observations Giri made is about players who have “modes”, different personas depending on whether they are playing a tournament or attending, say, a friend’s wedding.And the best example, according to him, is the current World Chess Champion D Gukesh.“Gukesh was not in my team (in the last GCL), but I’ve been with him on many different occasions,” he said. “During tournaments, after tournaments, I was with him at Vidit’s wedding as well.”“And it’s like different people every time. When Gukesh is at Vidit’s wedding, he is a different person than when he is playing the second round of Wijk aan Zee.”He laughed before adding, “Some people have this very, very strong game mode.”Giri’s success on the board during GCL 2024, though, wasn’t a coincidence. After months of self-doubt and worrying about his form, the league seemed to snap him out of the spiral.His rise back into the world’s top 10 and the qualification for Candidates 2026 with an authoritative win at the FIDE Grand Swiss has reaffirmed him as one of the most consistent elite players currently.Now, fast forward to season three of GCL, scheduled to begin at The Royal Opera House from December 14 to 23.The Dutch No. 1 will turn up wearing the Alpine SG Pipers jersey this time, but his goals remain the same.With the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships beginning right after GCL in Doha, he sees the league as the perfect warm-up.“I’ve been focusing fully on classical the last few tournaments,” he says. “There’s going to be some change in pace, so I will need to warm up. I am expecting maybe a turbulent start in GCL, but I’m gonna try to warm up for the rapid and blitz again.”“After GCL, there will be World Rapid and Blitz in Doha as well. So now I have two events in a row, which are rapid and blitz. That’s a shift in mindset and requires a little different type of play,” he chuckled.
