Freestyle Chess: D Gukesh loses to Firouzja, ends eighth

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Feb 14, 2025, 23:18 IST

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World champion D Gukesh finished eighth at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam after losing to Alireza Firouzja in their seventh-place playoff match. Despite drawing the first game, Gukesh lost the second in 30 moves, concluding a winless tournament. Vincent Keymer, considered a rookie, won the event, which challenges the traditional chess format.

Freestyle Chess: D Gukesh loses to Firouzja, ends eighth

World champion D Gukesh finished eighth in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam after losing to Iranian-French grandmaster Alireza Firouzja in their seventh-place playoff match at Weissenhaus resort. Gukesh's tournament campaign ended without securing a single victory.
Gukesh had managed to draw the first game against Firouzja on Thursday after making a remarkable recovery from a difficult position. However, playing with white pieces in the second game, he was unable to maintain momentum and lost in 30 moves.
The final game saw Firouzja demonstrating superior gameplay, successfully capitalizing on the opportunities presented during the match.
German player Vincent Keymer, despite being considered a newcomer, emerged victorious in the tournament's first edition. His unexpected triumph over more experienced competitors has pleased the event's sponsors, who designed the tournament with chess enthusiasts in mind.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE), the global governing body for chess, has shown resistance to Chess 960, also known as Fischer Random Chess or Freestyle Chess. However, this format continues to maintain its presence in the chess world.

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