Weissenhaus Freestyle G.O.A.T. Challenge Final: Calm before storm
Shahid Ahmed·3 min read
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
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
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
