8Bit Creatives Appointed Official Broadcast & Production Agency for Tech Mahindra Global Chess League Season 4

Bengaluru: 8Bit Creatives, India’s leading gaming talent management agency, has expanded into broadcast and live production with its appointment as the Official Broadcast & Production Agency for Season 4 of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL). The world’s largest franchise-based chess league is promoted by Tech Mahindra in partnership with FIDE, the International Chess Federation. Under this mandate, 8Bit Creatives will deliver end-to-end live broadcast production across all nine days of the league and serve as the official photography and videography partner for the event.

Season 4 Highlights

Season 4 marks the league’s debut in Bengaluru and will feature six franchises with some of the world’s top chess talent. The star-studded lineup includes Magnus Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja, Viswanathan Anand, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Javokhir Sindarov, alongside elite grandmasters such as Anish Giri, Arjun Erigaisi, Levon Aronian, Wei Yi, Nihal Sarin and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Leading women players including Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, Zhu Jiner, Kateryna Lagno, Harika Dronavalli and Bibisara Assaubayeva will also compete, along with a new generation of rising prodigies.

The franchises will compete in a double round-robin format across more than 30 matches at The Lalit Ashok from September 5 to 13, 2026. The league’s distinctive six-board team format, which pairs men’s and women’s boards with icon players and juniors on every team, remains unique in world chess. Triveni Continental Kings enter the season as the most decorated franchise, having won the trophy in the league’s first two editions.

Innovative Broadcast Production

8Bit Creatives will bring its esports and gaming expertise to the chessboard with a high-end, audience-first broadcast. The production will feature a 30-plus camera deployment across three halls, including Jib and Steadicam coverage, dedicated cameras for individual boards and player reactions, and — for the first time in the league’s history — two fully independent live feeds in English and Hindi.

The agency will also integrate its in-house chess data capabilities to combine live DGT board feeds with real-time evaluation graphics, player statistics and analysis boards, offering viewers deeper insights into the action. An LED-driven in-arena experience will extend the broadcast beyond the screen, bringing live data and storytelling into the venue. The production will deliver global live coverage across the league’s official platforms, supported by daily highlights and an official after-movie capturing the season’s defining moments.

Leadership Perspectives

Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder of 8Bit Creatives, said: “Over the years, 8Bit Creatives has grown by exploring new ways to build meaningful experiences around gaming, creators and entertainment. This appointment feels like a natural next step in that journey. The Global Chess League gives us the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to sports broadcast and explore new ways of engaging audiences. Chess creates tension and drama with every move, and we’re excited to work with the league to bring that experience to life through a modern, data-rich and audience-first broadcast.”

Gourav Rakshit, Commissioner of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, said: “Season 4 is our biggest yet, and the fan experience is just as important as the action on the boards. With 8Bit Creatives, we have found a partner who approaches chess broadcasts with the same passion and attention to detail as top sports productions, always focused on the viewer. From the excitement in the six-board arena to the experience at home, this season will look and feel unlike anything the league has done before.”

Broader Evolution

The entry into broadcast and production marks the latest chapter in 8Bit Creatives’ evolution from a gaming talent management agency into a broader creator and entertainment company. Founded in 2018, the agency represents leading gaming creators including Naman Mathur (Mortal), Payal Dhare (Payal Gaming), Parv Singh (Regaltos), Krutika Ojha (Krutika Plays) and Gulrez Khan (Joker Ki Haveli), and has executed campaigns for more than 100 brands across categories including apparel, FMCG, personal care, HORECA and entertainment.

The Season 4 broadcast of the GCL will be produced live by 8Bit Creatives from a purpose-built production control room at the venue, featuring dedicated studio programming, commentary across both language feeds and comprehensive coverage of the league’s marquee moments — from the opening moves to the crowning of the Season 4 champions on September 13.