Carlsen Emulates an Engine: Freestyle Chess Grand Slam – Quarterfinals Recap
The knockout stage of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Weissenhaus, Germany, kicked off with a bang, delivering both expected victories and surprising upsets. This unique tournament, featuring a randomized starting position (Chess960), has showcased some of the world’s top players in high-stakes rapid chess format already but now it’s time for the classical time control, 90 min + 30 sec/move.
F4 was the Weapon of Choice
After spending time on analysing the starting position, all the players were in consensus about the first move with white, 1.f4! The move develops a bishop with tempo, attacking the unprotected a7 pawn.

Carlsen Cruises, Caruana Grinds, Keymer Stuns
Magnus Carlsen continued his dominant form, dispatching Nodirbek Abdusattorov with a convincing win. Abdusattorov never seemed to get a grip on the position, and Carlsen capitalized on his inaccuracies ruthlessly, demonstrating why he’s considered one of the greatest of all time, even in this unconventional format. Magnus finished the game with an accuracy of over 98%!
Fabiano Caruana, known for his technical prowess, secured a hard-fought victory against a resilient Gukesh D. The game went down to the wire, with both players battling in severe time trouble. Caruana emerged victorious, showcasing his experience and endgame mastery.
One of the biggest surprises of the day came from Vincent Keymer, who upset the always-dangerous Alireza Firouzja. After finishing the round-robin stage in first place, Firouzja chose Vincent as his opponent for the quarterfinals only to take a blow in the first game. Keymer’s precise play and tactical acumen proved too much for Firouzja, securing him a comfortable position in the match where Firouzja has to win on demand tomorrow.
Nakamura Survives, Sindarov Escapes, and Aronian Rebounds
Hikaru Nakamura, a favorite in rapid chess, nearly clinched a win against Javokhir Sindarov. However, Sindarov, showing resilience under pressure, managed to escape with a draw. Hikaru’s body language after the game made it even more evident that the American was not happy with the result, and will need to bring his best game to the next round.
In a consolation match, Levon Aronian, eager to get going in this new variant, defeated Vladimir Fedoseev in a clean game. Aronian scored his first win of the tournament after 3 draws and 6 losses, giving him something to rejoice
What’s Next?
The losing players from the quarterfinals will get a second chance on Day 4 to try and force a tie-break. This adds another layer of excitement to the already thrilling tournament. The semifinals are set to be even more intense, with the remaining players vying for a spot in the finals. Chess fans are eagerly anticipating the next round of this exciting and innovative chess event.
Photo credit: Stev Bonhage / Freestyle Chess