Carlsen and Caruana set to play two Freestyle games to promote Freestyle Grand Slam Tour 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 21/11/2024

World no.1 and 2, Magnus Carlsen (NOR) and Fabiano Caruana (USA) will play two exhibition Freestyle games to promote Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025. Both games will be in Singapore, however in different locations. The first game will be played in a yacht. Before the exhibition games, there was a 'Head and Hand' game also famously known as Hand and Brain games. For those who are unfamiliar with it, one player (Head) says which piece to move, the other player (Hand) moves that piece to wherever s/he desires. IM Tania Sachdev and GM Magnus won the Head and Hand exhibition game against GM Fabiano and GM Maurice Ashley (USA). Game 1 starts today from 8 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Abhyudaya Ram and Aditya Sur Roy

Tania and Magnus win Head and Hand game against Maurice and Fabiano

IM Tania Sachdev and GM Magnus Carlsen teamed up to play a Head and Hand Freestyle Chess against GM Maurice Ashley and GM Fabiano Caruana. It was played at the launch event of Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025. Tania and Magnus' team won both games to win the match.

Magnus Carlsen (NOR) and Fabiano Caruana (USA) during a promotional photoshoot at Skybar - Level 57, Marina Bay Sands Hotel

On Wednesday 20th November 2024, IM Tania Sachdev and GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) played two Hand and Head Freestyle Chess games against GM Maurice Ashley (USA) and GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR).

Magnus Carlsen and Tania Sachdev team up against Fabiano Caruana and Maurice Ashley - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

"Can you stop doing that Magnus?" - Tania Sachdev, Game 2 commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

The Tania Sachdev interview after teaming and winning with Magnus Carlsen | Video: ChessBase India

Photo Gallery

Team Tania and Magnus en route their victory over...

...team Maurice and Fabiano

The venue was SKAI Bar in Singapore

View from the top

The playing arena

Venue for the Head and Hand game - SKAI Bar

Head and Hand game is in progress

Official Commentators - IM Daniel Rensch (USA) and IM Sagar Shah

Photoshoot of Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana | Video: ChessBase India

From Kolkata to Singapore vlog | Video: ChessBase India

Replay live stream

Replay Freestyle Chess Head and Hand live commentary by IM Daniel Rensch and IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Schedule

21st November: Exhibition Match #1 between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana - 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment

22nd November: Exhibition Match #2 between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana - 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment

Tie-breaks (if necessary): Best of two games - 10 minutes + 10 seconds increment, followed by Armageddon (if required) - 5 minutes vs time bidding for the other player.

Prize fund

The total prize fund is US$ 100000.

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025

Weissenhaus, Germany - 7th to 14th February

Paris, France - 8th to 15th April

New York, USA - 17th to 24th July

Delhi, India - 17th to 24th September

Cape Town, South Africa - 5th to 12th December

Links

Official site