Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov Lead 2025 Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam After Day 1
The 2025 Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam kicked off with a bang as GMs Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov took the lead with an impressive 4.5/5 score on the first day. Both players managed to defeat the defending champion, GM Magnus Carlsen, showcasing their skills in the unique format of Chess960.
The tournament, which features a $750,000 prize fund, saw intense competition among the 10 players vying for the top prize of $200,000. While Carlsen suffered losses to both Caruana and Sindarov, he managed to secure two wins to stay in contention. However, the defending champion is currently tied with World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and GM Hikaru Nakamura on a precarious 2/5 score.
With two players set to be eliminated on Saturday, the pressure is on for GMs Vladimir Fedoseev and Levon Aronian, who are currently at the bottom of the standings with 1/5. The tournament format includes a rapid round-robin stage followed by a knockout phase, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
Day two of the tournament promises more thrilling matchups, with key games scheduled between Carlsen and Abdusattorov, Caruana and Gukesh, and Sindarov and Nakamura. Chess fans can follow the action starting at 7 a.m. ET / 13:00 CET / 5:30 p.m. IST on Saturday, February 8.
Stay tuned for more updates as the 2025 Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam continues to unfold with intense battles and surprising outcomes.