D Gukesh finishes 8th at Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Germany
D Gukesh Finishes Eighth at Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Germany
NEW DELHI: Despite a valiant effort, World champion D Gukesh finished in eighth place at the German leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam after a tough battle against Iranian-French grandmaster Alireza Firouzja in the seventh-place playoff match at Weissenhaus resort on Friday.
The tournament proved to be a challenging one for Gukesh, as he was unable to secure a single win throughout the competition. After a thrilling comeback to draw game one against Firouzja, hopes were high for Gukesh to capitalize on his white-piece advantage in game two. However, he struggled to find his rhythm and ultimately succumbed in just 30 moves, sealing his eighth-place finish.
Firouzja, showcasing superior control, took advantage of the opportunities presented and secured the win in their final encounter. Meanwhile, German chess prodigy Vincent Keymer emerged as the surprise champion, defeating formidable opponents to claim the title.
Despite FIDE’s initial reluctance towards Chess 960, also known as Fischer Random Chess or Freestyle Chess, the format has gained traction and seems poised to remain a part of the professional chess circuit.
Despite his winless campaign, Gukesh walked away with $20,000 for his eighth-place finish. The tournament’s champion, Vincent Keymer, earned a remarkable $200,000 after emerging victorious over Fabiano Caruana in the final. Caruana, the runner-up, received $140,000, while world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen secured third place and took home $100,000.
Javokhir Sindarov finished fourth with $60,000, followed by Hikaru Nakamura in fifth place earning $50,000. Nodirbek Abdusattorov claimed sixth place and pocketed $40,000, while Levon Aronian finished ninth with $12,500. Vladimir Fedoseev secured 10th place and received $7,500.
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Germany showcased intense competition and impressive performances from top chess players, solidifying the growing popularity of the unique format in the chess world.