Freestyle Grand Slam 2025 Finals: Sindarov makes Carlsen work for his spot in the Grand Final
Magnus Carlsen will face Levon Aronian in the Grand Final of Freestyle Grand Slam Tour 2025 Finals. The FIDE World Cup 2025 winner, Javokhir Sindarov did not go down easily. Despite starting the Semifinals with a loss, he won the must-win second Rapid game, forcing tie-breaks. Carlsen won the first 5'+2" Blitz tie-break comfortably. However, he was losing the second one in the endgame. Sindarov misplayed and could not seize his opportunity, else things would have spilled into Armageddon. Vincent Keymer and Levon Aronian drew the first game. Keymer had some real chances in the second one. He missed it and the game ended in a draw. Aronian won a back and forth first tie-break game. He also won the next to set up a clash against Carlsen. Grand Final starts today at 1 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy
Arjun Erigaisi to battle Fabiano Caruana for fifth place
Fabiano Caruana defeated Parham Maghsoodloo by 1.5-0.5. Hans Niemann lost to Arjun Erigaisi by 1-3. Caruana and Arjun will battle for the fifth place today.
Semifinals 1 and 2: Starting position - 44 and 413
Sindarov - Carlsen: 1.5-2.5
FIDE World Cup 2025 winner, Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) was coming into this match with a victory over Magnus Carlsen (NOR) in the Round-Robin stage on his 20th birthday. So his confidence was at an all-time high. Carlsen won the first game quite comfortably putting his opponent in a must-win situation.
Carlsen - Sindarov, Game 2
After Carlsen blundered an exchange, Sindarov returned it to prevent a looming danger on his kingside. In the endgame, the World no.1 made another mistake in the endgame 44.Rc7+?? Kf6-+ 45.Qxe4 Rxe4 and Black went on to win the must-win second 30'+5" Rapid game. Sindarov lost the first 5'+2" Blitz tie-break. In the second tie-break, Sindarov had some chances in the endgame.
Carlsen - Sindarov, Tie-break 2
Sindarov got himself some real chance in the end after 32...d4 33.Bf7 Bd2 34.Rb3 h4 35.Bg6 Bc4 36.Ra3 Bc1 37.Ra1 and Black has many ways to win this Bd2/dxe3+/Bxe3+ Black opted for 37...Bxe3+ 38.Ke1 Bd3 39.b5 Bxb5 40.Bxe4 d3?? and Black's advantage faded. Instead, 40...Bc6 was the only way for Black to continue for win. Black got a few more chances in the end after both side promoted a queen each. However, it was a Blitz game, so it was not easy to find all the intricate lines. With this draw, Carlsen managed to win the Semifinal and secured his place in the Finals.
Replay Sindarov - Carlsen games
Keymer - Aronian: 1-3
The first 30'+15" Rapid game between Vincent Keymer (GER) and Levon Aronian (USA) ended in a draw. Keymer had some real chances in the second game.
Aronian - Keymer, Game 2
10.Bh4 Aronian offered an exchange. Keymer decided to take it 10...Bxd2 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Rxf6+ Kg7 13.Rf1 Bc3 14.e3 b5 15.Ne2 Bxa1 16.Ng3 Qe8 17.Qxa1 and Black eventually had a substantial advantage in the endgame.
36.Qe4 Kh8 37.Qe8+ Kh7 instead 37...Rg8 38.Qe4 Rg7 39.Qe8+Qf8 40.Qe1 Qe7 41.Nf5 Qxe1 42.Nxe1 would have given Black better chances. The game eventually ended in a draw via perpetual checks. Aronian won a back and forth first tie-break game. Then he won the second 5'+2" tie-break game convincingly.
Replay Keymer - Aronian games
For more Semifinal and 5th - 8th place photos, please click here.
Replay live stream
Replay all Semifinal and 5th-8th place playoff games
Schedule
8th December: Round-Robin stage - Rapid
9th December: Quarterfinals
10th December: Semifinals and 5th - 8th place
11th December: Finals, 3rd, 5th and 7th place
Time control
Knockout stage: Game 1+2 = 30’+15’’ / Game 3+4 = 5’+2’’ / Game 5 = Armageddon
Semifinal results
| 4 | GM | Sindarov Javokhir | UZB | 2704 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Carlsen Magnus | NOR | 2923 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 2½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | GM | Keymer Vincent | GER | 2752 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Aronian Levon | USA | 2772 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th - 8th place playoff
| 1 | GM | Caruana Fabiano | USA | 2797 | 1 | ½ | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | GM | Maghsoodloo Parham | IRI | 2712 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | GM | Niemann Hans Moke | USA | 2717 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Erigaisi Arjun | IND | 2744 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grand Final pairings
| 2 | GM | Aronian Levon | USA | 2772 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Carlsen Magnus | NOR | 2923 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd place pairings
| 1 | GM | Keymer Vincent | GER | 2752 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Sindarov Javokhir | UZB | 2704 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th place pairings
| 2 | GM | Erigaisi Arjun | IND | 2744 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Caruana Fabiano | USA | 2797 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th place pairings
| 1 | GM | Maghsoodloo Parham | IRI | 2717 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Niemann Hans Moke | USA | 2712 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Links
