The 2025 Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Final is reaching its climax with GM Vincent Keymer taking the lead after a decisive victory in game one against GM Fabiano Caruana. The German chess prodigy now needs just a draw in Friday’s game to claim the winner title and the grand prize of $200,000.
Vincent Keymer, playing with the white pieces, continued his excellent form from previous matches, showcasing energetic and precise play. In the early opening, he made a bold move, capturing a pawn on the edge of the board. Despite the aggressive decision, it paid off, and Keymer soon found himself in a commanding position. Caruana, struggling with the weakened f7-square and the development of his knight, was forced into a time-consuming rook maneuver that ultimately didn’t yield favorable results.
Reflecting on the game, Keymer said, “For me, most things were coming very naturally, so I could play quicker and my moves were easier to find.” This victory brings Keymer one step closer to his first major tournament win, with only one game standing between him and the biggest payout of his career.
Meanwhile, the battle for third place saw GM Magnus Carlsen outclass GM Javokhir Sindarov with the black pieces, securing victory in the first game. Carlsen’s performance was clinical, putting him in a solid position to claim the third-place spot.
In the match for fifth place, GM Hikaru Nakamura triumphed over GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov in a complex endgame involving two knights against two bishops. Nakamura’s superior technique in this rare endgame scenario ultimately gave him the win.
The only game of the day to end in a draw occurred between GM Alireza Firouzja and reigning World Champion GM Gukesh Dommaraju. Firouzja appeared to have the upper hand but squandered a seemingly easy win, allowing Gukesh to escape with a half-point.
The final day of the 2025 Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam will take place on Friday, February 14, with the match between Keymer and Caruana resuming at 7 a.m. ET / 13:00 CET / 5:30 p.m. IST.
Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Final Day 1 Results:
- Keymer 1-0 Caruana
- Sindarov 0-1 Carlsen
- Abdusattorov 0-1 Nakamura
- Firouzja ½-½ Gukesh
Looking ahead, Keymer is already preparing for the upcoming Freestyle Chess event at the GRENKE Chess Open, a tournament that holds personal significance for him. “My first game against Magnus was there [in 2018],” Keymer reminisced. The final chapter of this exciting tournament unfolds on Friday, and the chess world waits to see if Keymer can seal the deal with one final game.
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