World champion D. Gukesh was eliminated from the Freestyle Grand Slam chess tournament after losing his second consecutive quarterfinal match to Fabiano Caruana from the United States on Monday. After losing the first game while playing with the white pieces, Gukesh faced a tough challenge in the must-win match. Caruana secured victory swiftly in just 18 moves, ending Gukesh’s journey in the tournament.
Gukesh’s struggle and elimination
Gukesh faced a challenging opponent in Caruana. In Game 2 of the quarterfinals, Gukesh, playing with the black pieces, made a couple of blunders that turned the game against him. He found himself in a difficult position and had to resign, marking his exit from the Weissenhaus leg of the tour. Caruana’s precise moves and high accuracy percentage secured his victory, leaving Gukesh to aim for a fifth-place finish in the tournament.
Magnus Carlsen’s journey to the semi-finals
Star player Magnus Carlsen continued his excellent form by beating Nodirbek Abdusattarov, securing his place in the semi-finals. The semi-finals are set to be thrilling, as Magnus Carlsen will take on Vincent Keymer, and Fabiano Caruana will face Javokhir Sindarov. Keymer reached this stage by defeating Alireza Firouzja, while Sindarov managed to upset Hikaru Nakamura in rapid playoff games, sending the American chess star back home.
Freestyle Chess Grand Slam: A unique Chess experience
This Freestyle Chess Grand Slam introduces a new challenge to the players, where they only know the opening position 15 minutes before the match begins. This format brings in innovative plays and unexpected turns, making each game a fresh experience. Carlsen believes this approach makes chess more thrilling and could attract a larger audience, bringing more fans and attention to the sport.
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