Weissenhaus, Germany, February 17, 2025 – World champion D Gukesh ended his Freestyle Chess Grand Slam campaign in last place after losing his seventh-place playoff to Alireza Firouzja.
Gukesh Struggles Throughout Tournament
After a draw on the first day, Gukesh had a chance to make a comeback but lost in just 30 moves. A mid-game mistake forced him to give up his queen, allowing Firouzja to secure victory. The defeat meant Gukesh concluded the tournament without a single win.
Vincent Keymer Shocks Fabiano Caruana to Win Title
In a surprising outcome, Germany’s Vincent Keymer defeated Fabiano Caruana to win the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam. Despite being considered a rookie, Keymer’s victory over higher-ranked players impressed fans and sponsors.
Carlsen Secures Third Place, Nakamura Finishes Fifth
Magnus Carlsen claimed third place after defeating Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov. Hikaru Nakamura ended in fifth place by beating Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
Growing Popularity of Freestyle Chess
Despite FIDE’s reluctance to fully endorse Chess 960 (Fischer Random Chess), the tournament’s success highlighted its growing appeal among players and spectators.
Final Standings
1. Vincent Keymer (Germany)
2. Fabiano Caruana (USA)
3. Magnus Carlsen (Norway)
4. Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan)
5. Hikaru Nakamura (USA)
6. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan)
7. Alireza Firouzja (France)
8. D Gukesh (India)
