Bengaluru, Aug. 27 -- Indian chess star Divya Deshmukh will make her Global Chess League debut with defending champions Alpine Pipers when the fourth season begins here on September 5.

The 20-year-old, recently named an Arjuna Award recipient, will join a formidable Pipers line-up featuring world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, Vidit Gujrathi and Volodar Murzin, according to a press release.

Having largely competed in individual tournaments, Deshmukh is looking forward to the challenge of rapid chess in the league's franchise-based team format and the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd.

"It's my debut, so I'm definitely very excited. It's not like any other chess tournament. There's going to be a lot of audience for this on...