Weissenhaus Freestyle G.O.A.T. Challenge Final: Calm before storm

by Shahid Ahmed - 16/02/2024

Magnus Carlsen (NOR) drew against Fabiano Caruana (USA) in the first game of the Finals of WEISSENHAUS Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge. It was a relatively quiet draw. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) missed a great opportunity to beat Levon Aronian (USA). The former World Rapid champion had a significant decisive advantage in the rook endgame. His delay in activating his king cost him a valuable half point as his opponent escaped with a draw. Alireza Firouzja (FRA) and Vincent Keymer (GER) won their respective 5th - 6th place and 7th - 8th place games against D Gukesh and Ding Liren (CHN). Finals and 5th - 8th place game 1 starts today at 1 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com

Abdusattorov misses against Aronian

Fabiano Caruana had relatively quiet draw against Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com

Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen, Finals Game 1 - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Fabiano Caruana shows a bughouse trick that he used to beat Aronian | Video: ChessBase India

Abdusattorov - Aronian

Position after 43...Re5

Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) got himself a decisive advantage against Levon Aronian (USA). However, he was unable to seize his advantage. What he needed to do was activate his king. He did it a bit later which allowed his opponent to salvage a half point.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov had a great chance to gain the upper hand in the 3rd-4th place match against Levon Aronian | Photo: Amruta Mokal

A stunning encounter | Alireza Firouzja vs Gukesh - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

5th - 6th place: Alieza Firouzja - D Gukesh: 1-0 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Germany no.1 vs World Champion, Vincent Keymer vs Ding Liren | Video: ChessBase India

7th - 8th place: Vincent Keymer - Ding Liren: 1-0 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Photo Gallery

Players awaiting the reveal of the starting position number | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Henrik Carlsen watches his son Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Frederic Friedel, ChessBase Cofounder, Jan Buettner, Tournament Initiator and IM Sagar Shah, ChessBase India Cofounder | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Frederic Friedel with D Gukesh and his father Dr. Rajini Kanth | Photo: Amruta Mokal

D Gukesh, Peter Leko, Sofie Sagar Shah and Frederic Friedel | Photo: Amruta Mokal

D Gukesh, Dr. Rajini Kanth and Peter Leko | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Frederic Friedel with one of the official commentators - IM Tania Sachdev | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Fabiano Caruana practicing boxing, part of ChessBoxing workshop | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Fabiano Caruana, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Vincent Keymer discussing before the game | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The Official Commentators - GM Peter Leko and IM Tania Sachdev | Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com

For more Finals and 5th-8th place Game 1 photos, please click here. and here.

Video Gallery

The animated conversation between Peter Leko and Gukesh on WWE, Tennis and more | Video: ChessBase India

Magnus Carlsen arrives in battle mood for the finals | Video: ChessBase India

Through the eyes of a father and manager - Henrik Carlsen on Freestyle Chess | Video: ChessBase India

The life story of Lawrence Trent | IM, commentator, manager of Caruana, trainer and more | Video: ChessBase India

The innovations and story of Freestyle Chess at Weissenhaus explained by Holly Hock | Video: ChessBase India

Format

Time: Rapid and Standard

• Round robin: rapid 25 min for the game + 10 sec per move according to A5 of the FIDE laws of chess

• Tiebreak: first direct encounter, second: number of wins, third: Sonneborn-Berger

• Quarter-, semi- and finals: Two games standard 90 minutes/40 moves + 30 minutes rest of the game additional 30 seconds per move

In Case of Tiebreak

1:1 in quarter-, semi-final or final. Tiebreak in the evening:

• two rapid games 15 min for the game + 10 sec per move

• two blitz games 5 min for the game + 2 sec per move

• then one more blitz game until a winner is found

Replay live stream

Replay Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge Finals and 3rd - 8th place Game 1 live commentary by GM Peter Leko, IM Tania Sachdev and GM Niclas Huschenbeth - Part 1 | Video: Freestyle Chess

Replay Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge Finals and 3rd - 8th place Game 1 live commentary by GM Peter Leko, IM Tania Sachdev and GM Niclas Huschenbeth - Part 2 | Video: Freestyle Chess

Schedule

9th and 10th February: playoffs for starting order - Rapid

11th and 12th February: Quarterfinals - Classical

13th and 14th February: Semifinals - Classical

15th and 16th February: Finals - Classical

Replay Finals and 3rd - 8th place Game 1

Results

Final Game 1

Fabiano Caruana - Magnus Carlsen: 0.5-0.5

3rd - 4th place

Nodirbek Abdusattorov - Levon Aronian: 0.5-0.5

5th - 6th place

Alireza Firouzja - D Gukesh: 1-0

7th - 8th place

Vincent Keymer - Ding Liren: 1-0

Brackets

Details

Links

Official site

Weissenhaus

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