"I love chess - it´s my everything, I guess."
With these words, a participant of the GRENKE Open expresses in the Day 3 highlight video what many players on-site are feeling: a deep passion for the game and a sense of belonging to a community of like-minded people. This is precisely what makes the GRENKE Chess Festival so special.
Exciting Games and Big Emotions on Day Three
The third day of the tournament once again brought numerous chess highlights and fascinating stories.
In Freestyle Chess, starting position 302 was drawn. Since games begin immediately after the drawing and no additional preparation time is granted, many players use the first few minutes at the board to consider their opening move. A popular tactic – even among professionals – is to observe how players at neighboring boards make their first move. This was confirmed by Rasmus Svane in his interview with Fiona Steil-Antoni.
Carlsen in Control – Bacrot Walks Into a Trap
One of the most talked-about games featured Magnus Carlsen facing Etienne Bacrot. Carlsen castled as early as move 2. Then, on move 18, Bacrot blundered with b3?, trapping his own queen. Grandmaster Klaus Bischoff, who was providing live commentary at the venue, remarked dryly: "White’s queen couldn’t be placed any worse."
A memorable moment also occurred before the game: Bacrot revealed himself as a Carlsen fan and took a selfie. Chess photographer Dariusz Gorzinsk captured the moment live. Bacrot later posted the image on Twitter – and dutifully handed in his phone afterwards.
Mendonca Shakes Up the Tournament
A major surprise came from young Indian prodigy Leon Luke Mendonca, who defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi the day before and then went on to beat Richard Rapport with the black pieces. The critical mistake came with 29. Qh4?? instead of the safer Qh2. Although White anticipated the threat 29... Rh8!, after 30. Qe1 Qh2+, the queen could no longer come to the king’s aid against the decisive attack down the h-file.
Chess Stars Up Close: Souleidis, Kramnik and the Streaming Elite
Between rounds, popular chess streamer Georgios Souleidis ("The Big Greek") hosted a signing session at the Chess Tigers booth. Dozens of fans lined up to get autographs and have chess boards or books signed.
'
Media interest remains high: alongside SPIEGEL, a 13-member team from a major U.S. streaming platform was on site, having flown in especially for the event.
Vladimir Kramnik also made another appearance and had the honor of drawing the starting position for Round 5. His connection with Hans Niemann continues to be the subject of much speculation – and Niemann’s interview with Fiona Steil-Antoni didn’t provide any clear answers. However, he did share that he has rarely been surrounded by so many fans asking for autographs as he has been in Karlsruhe.
Carlsen Calls the Arbiter
A brief stir arose at the beginning of Round 5 when Magnus Carlsen called for the arbiter. What had happened? His opponent, Victor Mikhalevski, was wearing a watch – an analog one, but still enough for Carlsen to feel distracted.
Carlsen went on to win the game. Mikhalevski’s attempt to gain an advantage through a queen sacrifice backfired. Although he gained a rook and a knight in exchange and even forced Carlsen into a triple pawn structure, his pieces lacked coordination. A powerful passed pawn on the a-file ultimately secured the win for Carlsen.
National Teammates Face Off
From a German perspective, the game between Rasmus Svane and Vincent Keymer was a highlight. “I was under pressure the entire time,” Svane said. Keymer’s fighting spirit was clearly visible – as evidenced by a photo taken by Angelika Valkova. Nevertheless, Svane managed to hold on for a hard-fought draw.
Great Atmosphere and Strong Organization
Beyond the thrilling games, the overall atmosphere among the 3,000 participants stood out. Much of this is thanks to the players themselves – but also to the exceptional organization. A special thanks goes to the team of arbiters, whose impressive teamwork ensures everything runs smoothly.
Switching to Freestyle and a Clash at the Top
After Round 4, around 50 players opted to switch from classical to freestyle chess – among them, American Awonder Liang, who went on to defeat Daniel Dardha in Round 5. His reward? A showdown tomorrow at the top board against none other than Magnus Carlsen.
Behind the undefeated Carlsen (5/5), seven players are close on his heels with 4.5 points: Jobava, Blübaum, Sarana, Liang, Maghsoodloo, Pultinevicius, and Mendonca. The next day promises even more top-tier excitement!
News article by Freestyle Chess: https://www.freestyle-chess.com/news/carlsen-takes-full-control-in-karlsruhe/
