Grenke Freestyle Open R4-5: Aryan and Leon spell beautiful disaster for Arjun and Rapport

by Shahid Ahmed - 20/04/2025

GM Leon Luke Mendonca continues his great run at Grenke Freestyle Open 2025. After beating the reigning World Blitz cochampion, Ian Nepomniachtchi in Round 3, Leon defeated the ever creative, GM Richard Rapport (HUN). In the fifth round, Leon drew with GM Alexey Sarana (SRB) to move to 4.5/5, a half point behind the sole leader, GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) 5/5. GM Aryan Chopra got the better of GM Arjun Erigaisi in the fourth round. Arjun had a substantial advantage for the better part of the game. However, an error in an extremely complex position gave Aryan the win. Aryan drew with GM Hans Niemann (USA) in Round 5 to take his score 4/5. Round 6 starts today at 10 a.m. local time, 1:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Carlsen emerges sole leader, Seven in pursuit

Round 4

The starting position for the fourth round was position number 302.

The starting position for Round 4 was number 302

Bacrot - Carlsen: 0-1

GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) scored his fourth win in-a-row as GM Etienne Bacrot (FRA) made a tactical error causing his position to fall apart

Rapport - Leon: 0-1

GM Richard Rapport (HUN) made an incorrect queen retreat against GM Leon Luke Mendonca.

Position after 28...Qb8

29.Qh2 Qxh2+ 30.Kxh2 Be8/Kd6 Black has slight advantage. However, 29.Qh4?? just gave his opponent the complete upper hand 29...Rh8-+ 30.Qe1 Qh2+ 31.Kf2 Qg3+ 32.Kg1 Qh2+ 33.Kf2 Rf3+ 34.Ke2 Qxg2+ 35.Rf2 Rh2 and Black won. Beating the artist Rapport like this should give Leon an extra joy and motivation.

GM Leon Luke Mendonca is in great form

GM Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) - GM Pranesh M: 0.5-0.5

Arjun - Aryan: 0-1

GM Arjun Erigaisi was winning for the better part of the game against GM Aryan Chopra. However, in a complex position, Arjun misplayed.

Position after 34...e2

According to the computer 35.Rxg7 is winning for White. Yes that is quite unbelievable as White allows Black to promote the queen 35...e1Q 36.Rg8 Re8 37.Ne5 Nd6 38.Rxe8+ Nxe8 39.Qg8 and Black must give up his queen to prevent the backrank checkmate threat. The game continued 35.Qg3?? Rxc6 36.bxc6 Bxd4+ 37.Kb1 f4 38.Qe1?? f3 and now Black is completely winning.

GM Aryan Chopra scored a big win over GM Arjun Erigaisi

Round 5

The starting position for the fifth round was position number 630

The starting position for Round 5 was number 630

Magnus Carlsen calls the arbiter before the game | Video: ChessBase India

GM Magnus Carlsen defeated GM Victor Mikhalevski (ISR) to emerge sole leader 5/5

GM Leon Luke Mendonca drew with GM Alexey Sarana (SRB) to move to 4.5/5

GM Aryan Chopra - GM Hans Niemann (USA): 0.5-0.5

For more Round 4 and 5 photos, please click at the respective links.

Replay live stream

Replay Round 4 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 5 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Video Gallery

Hans Niemann and his fans | Video: ChessBase India

The absolute gentleman of the chess world - Levon Aronian | Video: ChessBase India

Vladimir Kramnik draws the position for Round 5 | Video: ChessBase India

The 10-year-old boy cannot believe that his IM opponent made an illegal move | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with Sagar Shah | Video: Grenke Chess

What do you like most about Grenke Chess | Video: Grenke Chess

Day 3 impressions | Video: Grenke Chess

Replay Round 4-5 Open A games

Round 5 results

Bo.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus	2837	4	1 - 0	4	GM	Mikhalevski, Victor	2513	60
2	32	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	2643	4	½ - ½	4	GM	Sarana, Alexey	2672	23
3	38	GM	Aryan Chopra,	2620	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	2736	10
4	36	GM	Svane, Rasmus	2625	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Keymer, Vincent	2718	14
5	15	GM	Yu, Yangyi	2714	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Mamedov, Rauf	2657	29
6	52	GM	Pultinevicius, Paulius	2558	3½	1 - 0	3½	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	2706	16
7	18	GM	Liang, Awonder	2692	3½	1 - 0	3½	GM	Dardha, Daniel	2650	31
8	20	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	2684	3½	1 - 0	3½	GM	Kollars, Dmitrij	2623	37
9	24	GM	Svane, Frederik	2668	3½	0 - 1	3½	GM	Jobava, Baadur	2600	43
10	26	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias	2662	3½	1 - 0	3½	WGM	Heinemann, Josefine	2342	102
11	50	GM	Pranesh M,	2572	3½	½ - ½	3½	GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	2661	27
12	74	IM	Druska, Juraj	2442	3½	0 - 1	3	GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	2757	4
13	3	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	2776	3	1 - 0	3	GM	Kraemer, Martin	2577	47
14	5	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram VR.	2749	3	½ - ½	3	GM	Grigoriants, Sergey	2552	54
15	48	GM	Piorun, Kacper	2577	3	½ - ½	3	GM	Aronian, Levon	2747	8
16	9	GM	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	2738	3	1 - 0	3	IM	Kilic, Eray	2473	67
17	51	GM	Smeets, Jan	2568	3	½ - ½	3	GM	Rapport, Richard	2722	12
18	13	GM	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	2722	3	½ - ½	3	IM	Sorensen, Hampus	2436	76
19	114	IM	Song, Julien	2309	2	1 - 0	2		Geist, Tim	2054	230
20	17	GM	Esipenko, Andrey	2696	3	1 - 0	3	IM	Wagner, Dinara	2435	77

Details

Standings after Round 5

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	RtgI	RtgN	Club/City	Pts.	TB1
1	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus	NOR	2837	2837	2839	FC ST.Pauli 1910 eV SAbt	5	16,5
2	18	GM	Liang, Awonder	USA	2692	2692	0		4,5	21,5
	52	GM	Pultinevicius, Paulius	LTU	2558	2558	2581	Marijampoles sporto centras	4,5	21,5
4	32	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	IND	2643	2643	2646	Hamburger SK von 1830 eV	4,5	17,5
5	23	GM	Sarana, Alexey	SRB	2672	2672	2627	SC Viernheim 1934 e.V.	4,5	16
6	26	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias	GER	2662	2662	2666	SF Deizisau	4,5	15
	43	GM	Jobava, Baadur	GEO	2600	2600	0		4,5	15
8	20	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	IRI	2684	2684	2673	SC Viernheim 1934 e.V.	4,5	14
9	60	GM	Mikhalevski, Victor	ISR	2513	2513	0	Beer Sheva	4	17
10	4	GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	RUS	2757	2757	0	Düsseldorfer SK 14/25 e.	4	16,5
	10	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	USA	2736	2736	0		4	16,5
	29	GM	Mamedov, Rauf	AZE	2657	2657	0		4	16,5
13	38	GM	Aryan Chopra,	IND	2620	2620	0		4	16
14	14	GM	Keymer, Vincent	GER	2718	2718	2717	OSG Baden-Baden	4	15,5
	22	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	NED	2681	2681	2669	Düsseldorfer SK 14/25 e.	4	15,5
	36	GM	Svane, Rasmus	GER	2625	2625	2615	Hamburger SK von 1830 eV	4	15,5
17	9	GM	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	USA	2738	2738	2727	Düsseldorfer SK 14/25 e.	4	15
	27	GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	IRI	2661	2661	2668	FC Bayern München e.V.	4	15
	50	GM	Pranesh M,	IND	2572	2572	0		4	15
20	3	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	USA	2776	2776	2743	OSG Baden-Baden	4	14,5

Details

Round 6 pairings

Bo.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	18	GM	Liang, Awonder	2692	4½		5	GM	Carlsen, Magnus	2837	1
2	32	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	2643	4½		4½	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	2684	20
3	23	GM	Sarana, Alexey	2672	4½		4½	GM	Pultinevicius, Paulius	2558	52
4	43	GM	Jobava, Baadur	2600	4½		4½	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias	2662	26
5	14	GM	Keymer, Vincent	2718	4		4	GM	Aryan Chopra,	2620	38
6	30	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	2651	4		4	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	2776	3
7	4	GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	2757	4		4	GM	Anton Guijarro, David	2639	34
8	36	GM	Svane, Rasmus	2625	4		4	GM	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	2738	9
9	10	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	2736	4		4	GM	Movsesian, Sergei	2591	44
10	39	GM	Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan	2618	4		4	GM	Yu, Yangyi	2714	15
11	60	GM	Mikhalevski, Victor	2513	4		4	GM	Esipenko, Andrey	2696	17
12	45	GM	Yoo, Christopher Woojin	2588	4		4	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	2681	22
13	27	GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	2661	4		4	GM	Fridman, Daniel	2582	46
14	50	GM	Pranesh M,	2572	4		4	GM	Oparin, Grigoriy	2660	28
15	29	GM	Mamedov, Rauf	2657	4		4	GM	Gokerkan, Cem Kaan	2489	64
16	2	GM	Erigaisi Arjun,	2782	3½		3½	GM	Bogner, Sebastian	2545	55
17	56	GM	Livaic, Leon	2536	3½		3½	GM	Aravindh, Chithambaram VR.	2749	5
18	58	GM	Schoppen, Casper	2529	3½		3½	GM	So, Wesley	2748	7
19	67	IM	Kilic, Eray	2473	3		3	IM	Song, Julien	2309	114
20	8	GM	Aronian, Levon	2747	3½		3½	GM	Kadric, Denis	2533	57