Like any regular Indian kid, I was crazy about cricket from the start. Training under the best coaches in Chennai, I started taking professional coaching when I was just ten and in the fifth grade. But when my family was transferred to a place without good cricket options, I had to abandon my training. At the same time, in 1990, the World Championship between Kasparov and Karpov was under way, and chess caught my attention. I wanted to learn more about the game, and used a book called "Winning Chess" to learn notations and basics.

Around the same time, a computer my father purchased became my best friend for life. I started learning, practicing, and playing chess with the computer. That soon improved my game, and I went on to finish third at the state district chess tournament. But I could not make a professional career in chess due to my focus on studies. Instead, I developed a fascination for engineering and technology, studying these subjects at university. This path ultimately led to my current professional life as a senior leader at Intel in India. However, my connection to the 64 squares has never faded.

In 2018 I became the ACO U-1800 World Champion (that's me, second from left)

I remain an active amateur player with an online Elo of around 2000, and am incredibly grateful to help foster the next generation of talent through my "Pursue your chess" scholarship initiative, which is now in its 6th edition.

Photography was another great passion I developed alongside my tech career. I loved documenting my life visually – family memories and travel experiences. I used to capture photos casually, but when my daughter Anjana started giving on-stage dance performances, I started taking photographs in a serious way, covering her events as the official photographer and videographer.

Eventually, I found a way to combine this new-found creative pursuit with my lasting passion for chess, showcasing my portfolio on Instagram (@aksubram). ChessBase India encouraged me tremendously, using a lot of my photos on their news pages, and with this, my chess photography journey truly began. I had the privilege of shooting at Tata Steel Kolkata at all their events from 2019-2024; three WACA events at Bangalore; three Chennai Grandmaster events (2023, 2024 and 2025); two Bangalore GM Chess events (2024 & 2025); the unforgettable 2022 & 2024 Chess Olympiads at Chennai & Budapest; the St. Louis Legends Chess event between Garry Kasparov & Vishy Anand; and now, for the 2nd time at the brilliant spectacle of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League! Taking inspiration from the incredible chess photography work of Alina L'Ami, David Llada, Stev Bonhage, Lennart Ootes, Maria Emelianova, Amruta Mokal, Niki Riga, Eric Rosen & Michal Walusza, I set out to capture the emotion behind the moves!

Thrilling Finale of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2025

When I stepped into the arena for Day 9 and Day 10 of the GCL 2025, the tension was palpable. The PBG Alaskan Knights beat Alpine SG Pipers with a perfect score leaving both teams smiling – PBG Alaskan Knights got a dominating victory while SG Alpine Pipers barely made it into the finals! The PBG Alaskan Knights then battled Ganges Grandmasters in fierce tie-breaks to secure third place! The reigning two-time champions, Triveni Continental Kings, were facing off against the Alpine SG Pipers in the grand finale. What followed was a phenomenal clash. The Alpine SG Pipers dominated with emphatic victories multiple players to end the Kings' reign and claim the title. 

I was there, just a few feet away, capturing the raw tension, the silent over-the-board calculations, and the explosive energy of team chess, using my Canon EOS R6 Mark 2 with a 100 mm f2.8 lens! Here is the story of the final few GCL 2025 matches, not through engine evaluations, but through the moments and emotions frozen in these photographs! Click all images to enlarge.

Anish Giri, Hou Yifan, and Gukesh pause to absorb the incredible energy of the Mumbai GCL 2025 crowd just moments before the battles begin!

Gukesh gets ready in his signature style – adjusting his pieces and his collar!

The game through his eyes: A brilliant perspective of Fabi deep in thought! Shutting out the chaos: Leinier Dominguez sinks into absolute concentration.

Rivalries suspended for the love of the game: PBG Alaskan Knights' Gukesh D breaks down a complex line, holding the rapt attention of the Alpine SG Pipers squad.

Pragg, Anish Giri, Alpine SG Pipers squad coach Pravin Thipsay, Fabiano Caruana celebrate their hard-fought ticket to the Finals, Hou Yifan and Nino Batsiashvili share a candid laugh.

Gukesh deep in the tank while 'Vishy Sir' calmly thinks about his next move

When the moves speak louder than words. Bharath Singh Chauhan watches the finals unfold, perfectly capturing the silent, gripping nature of the sport.

Legendary Vishy Anand in a state of deep over-the-board meditation!

... and in collegial discussion after the game.

Candidates Praggnanandhaa, Anish Giri, and Fabiano Caruana after realizing that the tournament standings have miraculously pushed them into the championship match!

An important battle between Fabiano Caruana and Alireza Firouzja

A baffled Alireza gestures in disbelief after his time runs out, while Fabi looks on and the arbiter steps in to confirm the devastating result for defending champions.

Taking 'zooming in' quite literally! Vidit Gujrathi closes the distance to the board, completely immersing himself in the microscopic details of the position

A bird’s eye view of the tournament hall!
 

Outro: As the confetti settled and the digital clocks were finally switched off, the standings had dramatically shifted. The Alpine SG Pipers ended the two-year dominance of the Triveni Continental Kings, proving themselves worthy champions of this incredible format. But beyond the results, the passion for the game was the ultimate victor. What unfolded in Mumbai wasn't just a sequence of moves - it was a showcase of grit, franchise pride, and the kind of willpower only world-class players possess. The Global Chess League continues to prove that while chess is an intensely solitary endeavour at the board, it becomes a spectacular, emotion-filled spectacle when played as a team sport.

These photos don't just document the final day; they freeze the emotion behind every single position. This article is the second of a series of pictorials covering “The Year That Was” – 2025!