Magnus Carlsen Advances to Grand Final of 2025 Chessable Masters, Losers Bracket Players Fight for Second Chance

World number-one GM Magnus Carlsen secured his spot in the Grand Final of the 2025 Chessable Masters after a thrilling series of matches. In a nail-biting armageddon game with Black, Carlsen managed to draw against GM Arjun Erigaisi before going on to defeat GM Hikaru Nakamura 2.5-0.5 with a game to spare. Both Erigaisi and Nakamura will have another chance to reach the Grand Final through the Losers Bracket.

The Losers Bracket saw the elimination of top players such as GMs Fabiano Caruana, Vladislav Artemiev, Wei Yi, Anish Giri, Andrey Esipenko, and Yu Yangyi. The remaining four players, aside from Nakamura, will face off in the Losers Quarterfinals: GM Arjun Erigaisi vs. GM Ian Nepomniachtchi and GM Alireza Firouzja vs. GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda. Nakamura advances directly to the Losers Final.

The Playoffs will continue on Thursday, February 20, with the Losers Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final taking place. The event will conclude on Friday with the Grand Final between the last two players standing.

In the Winners Bracket, Carlsen showcased his dominance once again, securing his place in the Grand Final. Carlsen, who has won the Champions Chess Tour every year since 2020, defeated Arjun in a close match that went down to the wire. Despite facing tough competition, Carlsen’s strategic gameplay and resilience ultimately led to his victory.

On the other hand, the Losers Bracket saw five players remaining, with Nepomniachtchi and Duda emerging victorious in their matches. The upcoming matches in the Losers Bracket will determine who will face Carlsen in the Grand Final, adding to the excitement of the tournament.

Chess fans can catch all the action of the Chessable Masters on Thursday and Friday as the top players battle it out for the coveted title. With high stakes and intense gameplay, the tournament promises to deliver thrilling moments and surprises until the very end.