chessbase india logo

Magnus Carlsen escapes with a draw against Fabiano Caruana, wins Freestyle Exhibition

by Shahid Ahmed - 23/11/2024

Magnus Carlsen (NOR) managed to salvage a draw in the second game to win Freestyle Chess Exhibition match against Fabiano Caruana (USA). The world no.2 had a couple of good chances in the rook endgame. However, he missed them and the endgame expert escaped with a draw. The second game was played at Le Freeport in Singapore. Both players posed next to a lavish US$ 44 Million chess set up. The first event of Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025-26 will take place in Weissenhaus, Germany from 7th to 14th February 2025. Carlsen, Caruana, Levon Aronian (USA) and Alireza Firouzja (FRA) are the confirmed participants for that event. One has to wait and see if the reigning World Fischer Random champion, Hikaru Nakamura (USA) accepts his 'extended invitation' for the tour. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Carlsen saves a tough endgame

Magnus Carlsen posing with US$ 44 million chess set up

Caruana - Carlsen

Starting position of Game 2

Fabiano Caruana started the game 1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.c5 h5 4.h4 Nf6 the game seemed to have headed towards a draw in a double rook endgame. However, rook endgames are not easy. Even the endgame expert, Magnus Carlsen made a mistake, allowing his opponent to score the equalizer.

Position after 44.Re6

White not only has an extra pawn but also his king is much more advanced. It only means Black has to defend carefully. 44...Rf4? 45.a5 Rf5+ 46.Re5 Rf6 47.Re7+ Kg8 48.Rxa7? and White's winning chances evaporated. Instead, what White needed to do was bring his towards the a-pawn, while keeping the black cutoff using his rook 47.Rg5 Ra6 48.Kc4 was one of the ways. After taking the a7-pawn, it became easier for Black to draw the game.

Caruana puts Carlsen to the ultimate Test | Freestyle Chess Singapore Game 2 - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India
"I hope he can hold his nerves in check and enjoy it" - Magnus Carlsen | Video: ChessBase India
Magnus Carlsen poses with World's costliest chess set up | Video: ChessBase India
Final moments of Magnus Carlsen winning Freestyle Exhibition in Singapore | Video: ChessBase India

Photo Gallery

Fabiano Caruana...

...and Tania Sachdev next to US$ 44 Million chess set up

The second game took place at Le Freeport in Singapore

For more photos, please click here.

Replay live stream

Replay Freestyle Exhibition Game 2: Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana, Commentary by IM Tania Sachdev and GM Maurice Ashley | 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 2025-26

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


Contact Us