Magnus Carlsen Leads with Perfection in 2025 Grenke Chess Freestyle Open

GM Magnus Carlsen continues his streak of perfection in the 2025 Grenke Chess Freestyle Open, with seven rounds under his belt. He won a smooth game against GM Awonder Liang before a rollercoaster game against GM Parham Maghsoodloo, where the Iranian grandmaster lost on time in a position where he was still playing for the win despite being objectively lost.

Carlsen now leads by a full point, with GMs Andrey Esipenko and Rauf Mamedov trailing behind. The final day of the tournament is on Monday, April 21, with two more rounds to go.

Round six favored the favorite, with Carlsen maintaining his lead and Maghsoodloo surging into sole second place. The games showcased intense battles and strategic maneuvers, with Carlsen’s practical approach proving successful in securing victories.

In round seven, Carlsen won on time against Maghsoodloo in a game described as the highlight of the tournament so far. Esipenko and Mamedov also secured wins to stay close to Carlsen in the standings.

As the tournament heads into the final rounds, the competition is heating up with players like Vincent Keymer and Fabiano Caruana vying for a chance to challenge Carlsen. The matchups for round eight promise exciting games, with Mamedov set to face Carlsen in a crucial encounter.

The Grenke Freestyle Chess Open is a prestigious event in the Freestyle Chess format, offering players the opportunity to qualify for the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour event in New York. With Carlsen’s dominance and the intense battles on the board, the tournament is set to culminate in an exciting finish on Monday.