GM Fabiano Caruana and GM Javokhir Sindarov made a strong statement at the 2025 Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, both scoring 4.5/5 on the opening day. In a shocking turn of events, both players defeated GM Magnus Carlsen, the tournament’s defending champion. Carlsen suffered another loss to GM Vladimir Fedoseev but managed to scrape together two wins, leaving him at 2/5—far from where he’d like to be. With two eliminations looming on Saturday, the stakes couldn’t be higher, especially for Fedoseev and GM Levon Aronian, who sit at the bottom on 1/5.
Standings After a Chaotic Day 1
The first day of action delivered excitement, surprises, and a leaderboard that few could have predicted. Caruana and Sindarov’s stellar performances left them in a commanding position, while several big names struggled to find their rhythm.
- Caruana and Sindarov lead with 4.5/5.
- A large pack of players, including World Champion GM Gukesh Dommaraju and GM Hikaru Nakamura, are stuck on 2/5.
- Fedoseev and Aronian face elimination with just 1/5.
The unpredictable nature of freestyle chess means the next rounds could shift everything again. Nothing is certain yet.
Caruana and Sindarov’s Statement Wins
Both Caruana and Sindarov showed remarkable form, proving they are serious contenders for the title. Caruana’s precision and deep preparation helped him navigate through a complex game against Carlsen, eventually forcing resignation. Sindarov, meanwhile, played fearlessly, taking advantage of Carlsen’s inaccuracies and seizing the initiative early.
Carlsen rarely loses multiple games in a single day, but when he does, it signals trouble. Despite his resilience, the road ahead is filled with challenges, and he must bounce back quickly to avoid an early exit.
Carlsen, Gukesh, and Nakamura in Trouble
Seeing Carlsen, Gukesh, and Nakamura struggling this early is a rare sight. Each player entered the tournament as a favorite, yet all three are hovering around the danger zone.
- Carlsen’s losses to Caruana and Sindarov put him in an unfamiliar position.
- Gukesh, the reigning World Champion, failed to capitalize on promising positions.
- Nakamura, known for his rapid chess expertise, seemed out of sync in critical moments.
If these players can’t recover on Day 2, they might find themselves shockingly eliminated before the knockout phase begins.
Elimination Looms for Fedoseev and Aronian
Fedoseev and Aronian have the most work to do, sitting at the bottom of the standings. One of them, if not both, will likely be heading home if they don’t turn things around quickly.
What went wrong?
- Fedoseev’s win over Carlsen was his only bright spot in an otherwise difficult day.
- Aronian struggled with time management and blundered in critical positions.
Saturday will be do-or-die for these two grandmasters.
