Alireza Firouzja Withdraws from Super Chess Classic Romania 2026 Due to Ankle Injury
Alireza Firouzja Withdraws from Super Chess Classic Romania 2026 Due to Injury
Bucharest, Romania — In a surprising turn of events, rising chess star Alireza Firouzja has officially withdrawn from the Super Chess Classic Romania 2026 due to an ankle injury sustained during the tournament. The announcement was made by the Grand Chess Tour on Wednesday, just hours before he was set to face GM Vincent Keymer in the sixth round.
The 22-year-old French-Iranian grandmaster had initially attempted to continue competing despite his injury, even playing two games from a hotel bed. In a remarkable display of resilience, Firouzja managed to salvage a draw against GM Javokhir Sindarov on Monday, despite being in a losing position. However, his luck ran out on Tuesday when he lost to GM Fabiano Caruana during a postponed fourth-round match.
“Unfortunately, due to an ankle injury sustained during the event, I have decided to withdraw from the tournament,” Firouzja stated in a message released by the Grand Chess Tour. “Thank you to the organizers for their support and accommodations, and thank you to everyone following the games. I wish the players and organizers the best for the rest of the tournament.”
The tournament organizers expressed their admiration for Firouzja’s determination to compete despite his injury. “We thank Alireza for his efforts to continue competing and wish him a speedy recovery,” they said. “We hope to see him back at the board soon.”
Despite his withdrawal, Firouzja’s results from the five games he played will still count towards the tournament standings, leaving him in last place with two draws. His injury first became public ahead of round five, raising concerns about his ability to continue. Doctors advised him to stay off his feet, although the injury was not believed to involve a fracture.
Images of Firouzja playing from a hotel bed quickly went viral, drawing comparisons to legendary moments in chess history, such as GM Tony Miles competing from a massage table in Tilburg 1985. “Fortunately for chess, you can lay on the bed,” Firouzja joked during a post-game interview after round five. “I just wanted to play more, because we have five more nice games, and I will learn something.”
Looking ahead, Firouzja is expected to travel to Oslo this week to participate in Norway Chess, which begins on Monday. Chief Organizer Kjell Madland confirmed that they have been in contact with Firouzja and are hopeful for his participation. “We have always managed to solve it when it arises,” he noted.
As the tournament progresses, GM Keymer will receive a forfeit win in round six, while other players like GMs Jorden van Foreest, Wesley So, and Bogdan-Daniel Deac will also benefit from Firouzja’s withdrawal. The Super Chess Classic Romania, which runs until May 23, features a prize fund of $475,000 and showcases some of the best chess talent in the world.
For fans eager to catch the action, the tournament is being held at the Museum of the National Bank of Romania in Bucharest, with a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 more minutes for the rest of the game, plus a 30-second increment starting on move one.
As the chess community rallies around Firouzja, all eyes will be on his recovery and return to the board in the coming weeks.