In 2026, Gerard Piqué joined India’s FYERS American Gambits after supporting Freestyle Chess: How a Barcelona Legend Builds His Chess Business Empire a year earlier

FILE PHOTO: Gerard Pique attends a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, January 16, 2026. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/File Photo Gerard Piqué has spent years looking for ways to make the sport work differently, even before he retires from football in 2022. Last year, this interest led him to chess where he invested in Freestyle Chess; added another stake in August 2026 by joining FYERS American Gambits as a strategic shareholder. The move brought the former Barcelona defender into the growing business of elite chess, digital audiences and sports entertainment, putting his venture directly into the Tech Mahindra-backed Global Chess League, where the Indian franchise competes on the global stage.

Piqué’s chess investment followed a career built around sports ventures

Piqué will retire in 2022 after making 615 official appearances for Barcelona and winning 30 trophies with the club, including three Champions League titles. He also helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup, but his business ambitions were taking shape while he was still playing.In 2017, he founded Kosmos, a sports, media and entertainment company focused on developing new sports properties and business models. Kosmos later created the Kings League, a seven-a-side football competition with shorter matches, unconventional rules, streamers and content creators with a format designed for a digital audience.Piqué’s interest in chess became public in 2025 through his investment in Freestyle Chess, a business founded by Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen and German businessman Jan Henric Buettner. In July of that year, Piqué participated in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas, joining Grandmaster David Howell, International Champion Tania Sachdev and Buettner on the broadcast. He said it was his first top chess event.Asked about his favorite player, Piqué said: “For me, Magnus. I think for everyone. He’s a legend.” When asked where Carlsen could play on the football pitch, Piqué quipped: “I suppose in midfield because he moves the team all around him!”

He joined FYERS American Gambits as a strategic shareholder

On 17 August 2026, FYERS American Gambits announced the entry of Gerard Piqué as a strategic shareholder at a press conference in Bengaluru. The Indian professional chess franchise, which is backed by online brokerage firm FYERS, said his involvement reflected their ambition to drive the sport’s global growth.Piqué joins an established ownership group that includes Indian cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin, co-owner since the team’s debut in 2024. The Gambits compete in the Global Chess League, a groundbreaking tournament launched by Tech Mahindra and FIDE. The world’s first established franchise chess league features six international teams competing in a fast-paced digital format. CEO and co-owner of the team, Prachura PP, described the investment as a landmark that perfectly combines the support of Indian companies with international sports entertainment.“Gerard understands what it takes to build a global sports venue, one that combines elite competition with compelling storytelling, passionate communities and a strong connection with fans,” Prachura said. He added that Piqué’s belief in the franchise’s vision was meaningful as it worked to build “the future of chess”.The financial terms of Piqué’s investment, including the size of his stake, were not disclosed. His role was presented as a strategic investment rather than public support, although the franchise did not specify the exact business arrangements.

Piqué’s investment came as chess pursued a wider audience

The Global Chess League is a competition; FYERS American Gambits is one of its franchises, with FYERS serving as the team’s main sponsor. Piqué’s involvement is in line with his wider interest in turning established sports into entertainment devices that can reach audiences beyond their traditional fan bases.Freestyle Chess and the Global Chess League approach this ambition differently, but both seek to package elite chess for a wider audience. Piqué’s experience building the Kings League gives him a familiar perspective on digital presentation, fan communities and sports storytelling.He was also part of a growing group of high-profile athletes investing in chess. In March 2026, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland’s investment in the FIDE-sanctioned Total Chess World Championship Tour was announced. The tour is organized by the Norwegian Chess team, which later announced a $10 million funding round involving Norwegian cross-country skiing star Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, former cycling world champion Thor Hushovd and business investors.

American Gambits finished third in Piqué’s first season

Piqué joined the franchise shortly before the fourth season of the Global Chess League, which was held in Bengaluru from September 3 to September 13, 2026. FYERS American Gambits finished third, securing the podium behind champions Ganges Grandmasters and runners-up Alpine APL Pipers.The reported prize pool for the season was $1 million, divided by team placement, game points and a champion bonus. Placement-based payouts featured $250,000 for Gang Grandmasters, $125,000 for Alpine APL Pipers, $75,000 for American Gambits and $50,000 for CheQ Mumba Masters; champions also received a reported $50,000 bonus, along with their share of the performance pool.Third place secured the franchise a strong result in the season that followed Piqué’s arrival, although it does not guarantee a financial return on his investment. The team also performed in The Untold Story of FYERS American Gambitsdocument issued on ZEE5.Piqué’s chess portfolio now includes two ventures, with American Gambits adding an investment in a team franchise to his earlier involvement in Freestyle Chess. The exact terms remain private, but his move reflects a broader shift among sports figures who see chess not just as a competition, but as a property with room to grow through media, new formats and a global audience.