Freestyle Grand Slam Tour Stage 1 SF: Keymer KOs Carlsen

by Shahid Ahmed - 13/02/2025

Vincent Keymer (GER) drew with Magnus Carlsen (NOR) to advance to the Finals of at Freestyle Grand Slam Tour Stage 1. The World no.1 got a chance in the endgame. However, the endgame expert had an off day, missed his chance and drew the game. Fabiano Caruana (USA) had the most exciting Semifinal match against Javokhir Sindarov (UZB). What seemed to be over by the second Classical game went on to Armageddon. Caruana managed to win the ultimate form of tie-breaker, although he could have finished things as early as second Classical game. Keymer and Caruana will clash in the Finals while Carlsen will battle Sindarov in the third place match. Finals Game 1 starts today from 1 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes

Carlsen to face Sindarov for third place

Vincent Keymer has done what he could have done at FIDE World Cup 2023, eliminate Magnus Carlsen in the Knockout stage. With FIDE World Cup 2025 slated to take place later in the year, the Germany no.1 has picked up one of the most important match wins of the career and be ready for the World no.1, if the latter decides to defend his World Cup crown. His opponent, Fabiano Caruana had a rollercoaster of a day. After missing a win in the second Classical game, it all went down to Armageddon. It goes without saying that the World no.2 will be vulnerable as he played more number of grueling games. Keymer has a great opportunity to win in his home country, Germany.

Vincent Keymer eliminated Magnus Carlsen to set up a clash with Fabiano Caruana in the Finals | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Carlsen - Keymer: 0.5-0.5

Magnus Carlsen (NOR) got some chances in the endgame against Vincent Keymer (GER). However, he was unable to capitalize on them.

Position after 28...Nxb4

29.Bh3 Rf8 30.a3 Nc6 31.Rd5 was one of the few ways White could have pushed for a win. The game continued 29.a3 Nc6 30.Bh3 Na5 31.Bxf5+ Kb8 now 32.c5 was needed. Instead, 32.Be6? abandoned all hopes and the game ended in a draw.

Vincent Keymer managed to do something which he was on the brink of doing almost 1.5 years ago | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Vincent Keymer - Magnus Carlsen, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Sindarov - Caruana, Game 2

Position after 32.Rf2

Fabiano Caruana missed the win 32...Ne2! No matter how White captures the knight, Black would have won the game either via Rxb2+ or Qh1+. Instead, he repeated 32...Nf3 33.Ree2 Nd4 34.Re1 Nf3 35.Ree2 Nd4 36.Re1 and the game ended in a draw.

Sindarov - Caruana, Tie-break 1

Position after 35.f5

34...Kf7?? allowed White to get a decisive advantage 35.f5+-. Unfortunately for Sindarov, he could not find a win in the knight endgame and allowed his opponent to escape with a draw. The second 10'+10" game ended in a draw. Sindarov won the first 5'+2" game and Caruana won the next. He also won Armageddon with the black pieces to earn his place in the Finals.

Blitz tie-breaks: Fabiano Caruana - Javokhir Sindarov, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Fabiano Caruana won an exciting Semifinal match against Javokhir Sindarov | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Nodirbek Abdusattorov won a sharp game which could have gone either player's way | Photo: Lennart Ootes

D Gukesh - Hikaru Nakamura, Rapid Game 2, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Hikaru Nakamura analyzes his games against D Gukesh | Video: GMHikaru

D Gukesh lost the second Rapid tie-break game after the second Classical and first Rapid games ended in draws. Nakamura won the match | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Day 6 preview | Video: ChessBase India

Finals: Vincent Keymer - Fabiano Caruana

3rd place: Javokhir Sindarov - Magnus Carlsen

5th place: Nodirbek Abdusattorov - Hikaru Nakamura

7th place: Alireza Firouzja - D Gukesh

Replay live stream

Replay Semifinals 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

Semifinals results

No.		Name	FED	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Pts.
Semifinal - Round 1 (2025/02/11)

3	GM	Keymer Vincent	GER	1	½						1½
1	GM	Carlsen Magnus	NOR	0	½						½

2	GM	Caruana Fabiano	USA	½	½	½	½	0	1	1	4
4	GM	Sindarov Javokhir	UZB	½	½	½	½	1	0	0	3

Details

5th -8th place results

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

3	GM	Abdusattorov Nodirbek	UZB	½	1			1½
4	GM	Firouzja Alireza	FRA	½	0			½

1	GM	Nakamura Hikaru	USA	½	½	½	1	2½
2	GM	Gukesh D	IND	½	½	½	0	1½

Details

Links

Official site

Weissenhaus

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