Magnus Carlsen of Norway captured the first official Freestyle Chess World Championship title on Sunday, defeating American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana 2.5–1.5 in the final of the FIDE-recognised championship.
Carlsen secured the crown with a draw in the fourth and final rapid game after winning a dramatic third encounter in which he recovered from a losing position. The victory gives the world No. 1 his 21st world championship title across formats.
The four-game final began cautiously, with the first two games ending in draws. Caruana held promising positions in both contests but was unable to press home his advantage.
The match turned in Game 3 when Carlsen misjudged a middlegame sequence and fell into a clearly inferior position after move 15. Caruana maintained control for much of the game, but under time pressure he committed a series of inaccuracies beginning on move 31 that allowed Carlsen to equalise. The Norwegian then declined a drawing continuation and launched a decisive attack, forcing resignation within a few moves.
“I thought I was lost at one point,” Magnus Carlsen said after the match. “But I kept fighting and fortunately things turned around.”
Needing only a draw in the final game, Carlsen steered the position into an equal endgame to clinch the title.
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The three-day tournament marked the first time that Freestyle Chess- also known as Chess960 or Fischer Random- has been officially recognised by FIDE as a world championship event. The format randomises the starting position of the back-rank pieces, reducing reliance on opening preparation and emphasising over-the-board calculation.
Magnus Carlsen had previously competed in Fischer Random world championship events without winning the title. Sunday’s triumph adds the Freestyle crown to his five classical, six rapid and nine blitz world championships.
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Caruana, ranked world No. 3, was seeking his first world title in any format. He previously challenged Carlsen for the classical world championship in 2018, drawing all 12 classical games before losing in rapid tiebreaks.
In the third-place match, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov defeated Germany’s Vincent Keymer to secure a podium finish. The top three finishers qualified for the 2027 Freestyle World Championship.
The tournament featured a total prize fund of $300,000, with Carlsen earning $100,000 for his victory.
