The round robin portion of the Freestyle Chess Grand Tour event in Weissenhaus, Germany, has concluded, setting the stage for the knockout phase. For reigning World Champion D. Gukesh, this initial stage proved to be an unexpectedly stern test. Despite failing to secure a single victory across his nine games, Gukesh managed to finish just high enough in the standings to qualify for the quarterfinals.
A Challenging Round Robin
Gukesh`s performance in the round robin was characterized by a series of draws and two losses. Day 2 mirrored his results from Day 1: one loss and three draws. His final tally stood at 3.5 points, positioning him in eighth place among the ten elite competitors. This score was just sufficient to claim the final spot in the knockout bracket, highlighting a qualification achieved through resilience in drawing difficult positions rather than dominant play.
The Anticipated Clash: Gukesh vs. Carlsen
A highlight of the final round robin day was the much-anticipated encounter between D. Gukesh and Magnus Carlsen. This match marked their first meeting since Gukesh ascended to the World Champion title in December. The game began promisingly, unfolding into a complex and relatively balanced middle game showcasing fine tactical and positional considerations from both sides. However, as the clock ticked down towards the endgame, Carlsen`s renowned precision in simplified positions began to assert itself.
Under time pressure, Gukesh committed a critical error with his knight, a misstep Carlsen immediately capitalized on. This allowed the Norwegian maestro to constrain Gukesh`s pieces and establish a decisively winning position. Recognizing the inevitable, the World Champion ultimately resigned, handing Carlsen the full point.
Near Misses and Secured Draws
Gukesh`s path through the round robin wasn`t just about the loss to Carlsen. He was arguably fortunate to not register a second defeat on Day 2 against Fabiano Caruana. In that game, Caruana held a clearly winning advantage in the endgame, only to make a crucial mistake that allowed Gukesh to force a draw via perpetual check. His other matches on the day against Vladimir Fedoseev and Vincent Keymer concluded without significant incident, ending in draws that contributed to his point total.
Qualification and the Path Ahead
Finishing eighth with 3.5 points secured Gukesh`s passage to the knockout quarterfinals. This sets up a direct rematch against Fabiano Caruana, the American grandmaster Gukesh recently drew against under fortunate circumstances. The other quarterfinal pairings see Alireza Firouzja taking on Vincent Keymer, Javokhir Sindarov facing Hikaru Nakamura, and Magnus Carlsen matched against Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
While the round robin phase may not have displayed the dominant form expected of a reigning World Champion, Gukesh`s qualification means his tournament journey continues. The unpredictable nature of Freestyle Chess ensures that the knockout stage remains wide open, offering Gukesh an opportunity to find his stride and compete for the title.
Round Robin Standings Summary:
- 1. Alireza Firouzja – 6.5 points
- 2. Javokhir Sindarov – 6.5 points
- 3. Fabiano Caruana – 6 points
- 4. Magnus Carlsen – 5.5 points
- 5. Hikaru Nakamura – 5.5 points
- 6. Vincent Keymer – 4 points
- 7. Nodirbek Abdusattorov – 3.5 points
- 8. Dommaraju Gukesh – 3.5 points
- 9. Vladimir Fedoseev – 2.5 points
- 10. Levon Aronian – 1.5 points
