Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Vincent Keymer Advance to Semifinals of 2025 Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam

The 2025 Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam continued with an intense day of Quarterfinal action, as GMs Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Vincent Keymer advanced to the Semifinals. The day started with an awkward setup, as IM Danny Rensch drew position 73 for the second round of the Quarterfinals.

Rensch, in a robe alongside host WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni, struggled with the challenging position, as did the other players. Carlsen admitted that the setup made it difficult, but he believed it was a test of skill. Caruana and Nakamura both employed successful opening strategies for the second day in a row, leading to their victories.

Keymer’s impressive sacrifice in his match against Nepomniachtchi earned him a spot in the Semifinals after a series of rapid tiebreak games. Carlsen also advanced to the Semifinals, despite falling into trouble early in his match against Abdusattorov. Nakamura and Caruana secured their spots in the Semifinals with strong performances against their opponents.

The Semifinals are set to begin tomorrow, with Carlsen facing Caruana and Nakamura taking on Keymer. The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Paris is part of a multi-million dollar tour, with players competing in rapid chess and knockout rounds in freestyle chess format. Stay tuned for more exciting chess action as the tournament progresses.