Freestyle Grand Slam Tour Stage 1: Sindarov eliminates Nakamura, joins Keymer, Caruana and Carlsen in SF

by Shahid Ahmed - 11/02/2025

Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) eliminated Hikaru Nakamura (USA) to advance to the Semifinals of Freestyle Grand Slam Tour Stage 1. The 44th Olympiad Gold medalist's brave decision to choose Nakamura has to be applauded. Despite being lost in three out of the four games, he defended well and manage to win the match. The reigning World Fischer Random champion, Nakamura appreciated his opponent's defensive skills. Magnus Carlsen (NOR) and Fabiano Caruana (USA) won their second game against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) and D Gukesh to advance to the next KO stage. Vincent Keymer (GER) drew with Alireza Firouzja (FRA) to setup a clash with Carlsen. Caruana will face Sindarov in the Semifinals. Game 1 starts today from 1 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Abbudsattorov and Gukesh lose both QF games

Both Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) and D Gukesh are virtually playing non-stop since before 45th Olympiad. Gukesh got a few tournaments rest due to World Championship. They both had a fantastic Tata Steel Masters. Gukesh was inches away from winning it. So two consecutive losses at the Quarterfinals, doesn't change much for them. They are neither going to lose any rating points nor anything significant.

Javokhir Sindarov will face Fabiano Caruana in the Semifinals | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Keymer - Firouzja: 0.5-0.5

Alireza Firouzja (FRA) tried a lot to score equalizer against Vincent Keymer (GER) in the second game of the Quarterfinals. He arrived at a lost position. Since a draw was enough for Keymer to advance to the Semifinals, that's what he did by repeating moves in a winning queen and knight vs queen endgame.

Vincent Keymer eliminated Alireza Firouzja | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Nakamura - Sindarov: 1-2

The second tie-break game between Hikaru Nakamura (USA) and Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) was a well contested draw. Sindarov won the first 10'+10" tie-break game when Nakamura went to capture a wrong pawn which increased the vulnerability of his king.

Nakamura - Sindarov, Tie-break 1

Position after 23...Re5

24.Qxh7? invited trouble Qb6 25.Kd1 Qxb3+ 26.Ke2 Qxc3 27.Kf1 Nb3 and Black went on to win the game.

Sindarov - Nakamura, Tie-break 2

Position after 20.Rg4??

20.e3 Rh8 would have been good for White. 20.Rg4?? allowed d4. Nakamura got a winning position. However, for the third time in this match, he blundered in time trouble. Eventually White got a winning position, but he drew as it was enough for him to advance to the Semifinals.

Hikaru Nakamura analyzes his QF2 and games against Javokhir Sindarov | Video: GMHikaru

Behind-the-scenes moments | Video: ChessBase India

Hikaru Nakamura missed an opportunity to win against Javokhir Sindarov | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Caruana - Gukesh

Position after 7...Bxa2?

Gukesh went wrong early in the game 7...Bxa2? 8.Ra1 Be6 9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.Rxa7 Black never managed to gain any compensation for the sacrificed pawn at f5.

Fabiano Caruana - D Gukesh, Quarterfinals Game 2, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Fabiano Caruana just made a short work of Gukesh in 18 moves | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Abdusattorov - Carlsen

Position after 22.Rde1

Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) made a mistake 22.Rde1? Ne5! forced the trade of couple of minor pieces and pawns. 23.Bxe5 Bxd5 24.cxd5 dxe5 25.Rxe5 Rxh2 and Black eventually went on to win the resultant rook and pawn endgame.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov suffered his second consecutive loss against Magnus Carlsen to get eliminated | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Levon Aronian drew with Vladimir Fedoseev to finish ninth | Photo: Abhyudaya Ram

Replay live stream

Replay Quarterfinals Game 2 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah, GM Harshit Raja and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Total prize fund

US$ 750000 per Grand Slam

Format

Time: Rapid and Standard

• Round robin: Rapid 10 minutes for the game + 10 seconds per move

• Knockout stage - Game 1+2 = 90’+30’’ / Game 3+4 = 10’+10’’ / Game 5+6 = 5’+2’’ / Game 7 = Armageddon

Schedule

7th and 8th February: Round-Robin stage - Rapid

9th and 10th February: Quarterfinals - Classical

11th and 12th February: Semifinals and Playoffs for 5th to 8th - Classical

13th and 14th February: Finals - Classical

Quarterfinals results

No.		Name	FED	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Pts.
Quarterfinal - Round 1 (2025/02/09 - 2025/02/10)

6	GM	Firouzja Alireza	FRA	0	½			½
7	GM	Keymer Vincent	GER	1	½			1½

8	GM	Sindarov Javokhir	UZB	½	½	1	½	2½
3	GM	Nakamura Hikaru	USA	½	½	0	½	1½

4	GM	Gukesh D	IND	0	0			0
2	GM	Caruana Fabiano	USA	1	1			2

1	GM	Carlsen Magnus	NOR	1	1			2
5	GM	Abdusattorov Nodirbek	UZB	0	0			0

Details

Standings after Quarterfinals Game 2 and Tie-breaks

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	RtgI	Pts.
1	8	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	UZB	2700	2,5
2	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus	NOR	2833	2
3	2	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	USA	2803	2
4	3	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru	USA	2802	1,5
5	7	GM	Keymer, Vincent	GER	2731	1,5
6	6	GM	Firouzja, Alireza	FRA	2760	0,5
7	4	GM	Gukesh, D	IND	2777	0
8	5	GM	Abdusattorov, Nodirbek	UZB	2766	0

Details

Semifinals pairings

No.		Name	FED	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Pts.
Semifinal - Round 1 (2025/02/11)

3	GM	Keymer Vincent	GER					0
1	GM	Carlsen Magnus	NOR					0

2	GM	Caruana Fabiano	USA					0
4	GM	Sindarov Javokhir	UZB					0

Details

Links

Official site

Weissenhaus

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