The inaugural Freestyle Chess Grand Tour in Weissenhauss, Germany, kicked off with a day of intense battles and unexpected outcomes. While the unique Chess960 format promises thrilling positions, the opening rounds proved particularly challenging for the reigning classical world champion, India`s D Gukesh, who concluded the first day without securing a single victory.
Gukesh faced a demanding five-game schedule in the round-robin phase but managed only four draws and suffered one loss, accumulating 2 points. This placed him in a crowded mid-field group tied for sixth position, a rather modest start for the player who recently ascended to the pinnacle of classical chess.
His sole defeat came in the second round against France`s Alireza Firouzja. The game reached a complex endgame where Gukesh, under significant pressure, committed a critical error that allowed Firouzja to force a checkmate in two moves. A tough lesson early in the tournament.
The day began with a solid defensive effort against Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Gukesh navigated a tricky position into an endgame where Abdusattorov, despite having an advantage, couldn`t find a way to break through, resulting in a hard-fought draw.
The third round saw a relatively calm encounter against Levon Aronian, ending peacefully without major drama. However, the fourth round brought significant peril for Gukesh. Facing Javokhir Sindarov, Gukesh found himself in an inferior position from the opening stages, which only worsened as the game progressed. Yet, the unpredictable nature of chess intervened; a late blunder from Sindarov offered Gukesh a lifeline, allowing him to recover and ultimately salvage another crucial draw from a difficult situation.
The final game of the day pitted Gukesh against American chess streamer sensation Hikaru Nakamura. Gukesh emerged from the opening with a promising advantage but had invested a considerable amount of time on the clock. Time pressure led to a series of inaccuracies, swinging the initiative back to Nakamura. Despite holding the edge, Nakamura couldn`t convert, and the game concluded with a draw. Intriguingly, Nakamura mirrored Gukesh`s results for the day, also finishing with four draws and a single loss.
Other top players also experienced turbulence. Five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen finished the day level on points with Gukesh and Nakamura. Carlsen`s day was a rollercoaster, featuring wins against Nakamura and Vincent Keymer, but also losses to Fabiano Caruana, Vladimir Fedoseev, and Sindarov.
Leading the field after five rounds are Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov, both having impressive starts with 4.5 points out of a possible 5. Their strong performances highlight the competitive depth and the potential for surprises in this format.
The round-robin stage, featuring ten elite players, continues for another four rounds on the second day. After nine rounds, the bottom two players will be eliminated, with the top eight advancing to the knockout quarterfinals. The unique twist? The top four finishers get to choose their opponents from the remaining qualifiers, adding a layer of strategic intrigue before the boards are even set.
D Gukesh`s Results on Day 1
- Draw vs. Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Loss vs. Alireza Firouzja
- Draw vs. Levon Aronian
- Draw vs. Javokhir Sindarov
- Draw vs. Hikaru Nakamura
Freestyle Chess Grand Tour Standings After Day 1 (Round 5)
- Fabiano Caruana – 4.5
- Javokhir Sindarov – 4.5
- Alireza Firouzja – 3.5
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov – 2.5
- Magnus Carlsen – 2
- Dommaraju Gukesh – 2
- Hikaru Nakamura – 2
- Vincent Keymer – 2
- Vladimir Fedoseev – 1
- Levon Aronian – 1
Day two promises critical battles as players vie for qualification spots and favorable quarterfinal pairings. Gukesh, the world champion, will undoubtedly be looking to rebound from his challenging start and demonstrate the form that carried him to the world title.
