Magnus Carlsen dominates Grenke Freestyle Open with a perfect 9/9 and 3153 performance

by Shahid Ahmed - 22/04/2025

There is a reason Magnus Carlsen (NOR) is considered G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all time). Very few can argue and even dare to refute it as he has repeatedly proved that he is the best irrespective format or even variant. The World no.1 won Grenke Freestyle Open 2025 with a round to spare when he defeated GM Rauf Mamedov (AZE). In the final round, he won against the Germany no.1, GM Vincent Keymer. Although he didn't need but he still went for it shows that despite becoming a five-time World Champion and winning a World Cup too, he still has unquenchable hunger to shatter records. This was the first time he scored 9/9 in a Classical tournament and won it with a performance of 3153. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy

Carlsen wins with a round to spare

Seven players scored 7/9 each. GM Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) and GM Andrey Esipenko was placed second and third according to tie-breaks. Among the Indians, GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM Leon Luke Mendonca are the only two to make a top ten finish. They scored 7/9 and 6.5/9 each to claim seventh and tenth place respectively. Magnus won €60000 and 25 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour points. IM Aswath S won the Grenke Open A and also earned his maiden GM-norm. It will be mentioned in detail in a separate report.

Magnus Carlsen is the dominant winner of Grenke Freestyle Open 2025

Runner-up - GM Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI) 7/9 | Photo: IM Sagar Shah

Round 8

The starting position for the eighth round was position number 228.

The starting position for Round 6 was number 228

Rauf - Carlsen: 0-1

GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) started the final day by grinding a rook and bishop vs rook and knight endgame against GM Rauf Mamedov (AZE). This win made him the champion as he registered his eighth win in-a-row and he was 1.5 points ahead of others at that time.

Magnus Carlsen joins the ChessBase India live stream after becoming the champion | Video: ChessBase India

GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) defeated GM Rauf Mamedov (AZE) to win the tournament with a round to spare

Arjun - David Anton: 1-0

GM Arjun Erigaisi - GM David Anton Guijjaro (ESP): 1-0

GM Pranesh M - GM Awonder Liang (USA): 1-0

Round 9

The starting position for the ninth round was position number 140

Our very own Cofounder and CEO, IM Sagar Shah drew the position number for the final round

The starting position for Round 9 was number 140

Carlsen - Keymer: 1-0

For the second consecutive year, Magnus Carlsen defeated Vincent Keymer at the same event. Although the variant and format are different, the outcome remains the same.

GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) - GM Vincent Keymer (GER): 1-0

GM Arjun Erigaisi defeated GM Jorden van Foreest (NED) to finish seventh

GM Leon Luke Mendonca drew with GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) to claim tenth place

How many GMs can you spot in this frame?

For more Round 8, 9 and Prize distribution ceremony photos, please click at the respective links.

Replay live stream

Replay Round 8 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 9 live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal | Video: ChessBase India

Video Gallery

14th World Champion - Vladimir Kramnik joins the live stream | Video: ChessBase India

He is only 89 and he loves playing chess | Video: ChessBase India

Magnus Carlsen - "I have never done this in classical format, it feels incredible" | Video: ChessBase India

Highest Performance Ever! - Magnus Carlsen Winner Analysis | Video: Grenke Chess

Day 4 impressions | Video: Grenke Chess

Replay Round 8-9 Open A games

Round 9 results

Bo.	No.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Carlsen, Magnus	2837	8	1 - 0	6½	GM	Keymer, Vincent	2718	14
2	9	GM	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	2738	6½	½ - ½	6½	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	2684	20
3	24	GM	Svane, Frederik	2668	6½	½ - ½	6	GM	Robson, Ray	2692	19
4	22	GM	Van Foreest, Jorden	2681	6	0 - 1	6	GM	Erigaisi Arjun,	2782	2
5	3	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	2776	6	1 - 0	6	GM	Tabatabaei, M. Amin	2661	27
6	11	GM	Le, Quang Liem	2729	6	0 - 1	6	GM	Sarana, Alexey	2672	23
7	12	GM	Rapport, Richard	2722	6	½ - ½	6	GM	Mamedov, Rauf	2657	29
8	13	GM	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	2722	6	½ - ½	6	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	2643	32
9	15	GM	Yu, Yangyi	2714	6	½ - ½	6	GM	Pranesh M,	2572	50
10	17	GM	Esipenko, Andrey	2696	6	1 - 0	6	GM	Jobava, Baadur	2600	43
11	28	GM	Oparin, Grigoriy	2660	6	½ - ½	6	GM	Grischuk, Alexander	2682	21
12	30	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali	2651	6	½ - ½	5½	GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	2757	4
13	7	GM	So, Wesley	2748	5½	1 - 0	5½	GM	Yoo, Christopher Woojin	2588	45
14	41	GM	Kamsky, Gata	2603	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Aronian, Levon	2747	8
15	49	GM	Sonis, Francesco	2576	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Niemann, Hans Moke	2736	10
16	51	GM	Smeets, Jan	2568	5½	0 - 1	5½	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	2706	16
17	68	IM	Koelle, Tobias	2459	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Navara, David	2665	25
18	26	GM	Bluebaum, Matthias	2662	5½	½ - ½	5½	IM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	2494	63
19	114	IM	Song, Julien	2309	4½	0 - 1	4½	IM	Feuerstack, Aljoscha	2458	69
20	31	GM	Dardha, Daniel	2650	5½	½ - ½	5½	GM	Schoppen, Casper	2529	58

Details

Final standings

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	9	52,5
2	20	GM	Maghsoodloo, Parham	IRI	2684	2684	2673	SC Viernheim 1934 e.V.	7	52,5
3	17	GM	Esipenko, Andrey	FID	2696	2696	2730	Düsseldorfer SK 14/25 e.	7	52
	24	GM	Svane, Frederik	GER	2668	2668	2692	Hamburger SK von 1830 eV	7	52
5	9	GM	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	USA	2738	2738	2727	Düsseldorfer SK 14/25 e.	7	50,5
	23	GM	Sarana, Alexey	SRB	2672	2672	2627	SC Viernheim 1934 e.V.	7	50,5
7	2	GM	Erigaisi Arjun,	IND	2782	2782	2759	Düsseldorfer SK 14/25 e.	7	50
	3	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	USA	2776	2776	2743	OSG Baden-Baden	7	50
9	29	GM	Mamedov, Rauf	AZE	2657	2657	0		6,5	56
10	32	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	IND	2643	2643	2646	Hamburger SK von 1830 eV	6,5	54
11	50	GM	Pranesh M,	IND	2572	2572	0		6,5	53
12	16	GM	Sindarov, Javokhir	UZB	2706	2706	2694	Düsseldorfer SK 14/25 e.	6,5	52,5
13	14	GM	Keymer, Vincent	GER	2718	2718	2717	OSG Baden-Baden	6,5	52
14	7	GM	So, Wesley	USA	2748	2748	2752	Düsseldorfer SK 14/25 e.	6,5	50,5
	12	GM	Rapport, Richard	HUN	2722	2722	2742	OSG Baden-Baden	6,5	50,5
16	15	GM	Yu, Yangyi	CHN	2714	2714	2731	Düsseldorfer SK 14/25 e.	6,5	50
	34	GM	Anton Guijarro, David	ESP	2639	2639	2657	SC Viernheim 1934 e.V.	6,5	50
18	36	GM	Svane, Rasmus	GER	2625	2625	2615	Hamburger SK von 1830 eV	6,5	49,5
19	13	GM	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	FRA	2722	2722	2713	OSG Baden-Baden	6,5	49
	19	GM	Robson, Ray	USA	2692	2692	0		6,5	49
	21	GM	Grischuk, Alexander	RUS	2682	2682	0		6,5	49

Details

Links

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