Spectacular Moves and Strong Emotions
The fourth day of the grenke Chess Festival once again offered plenty of highlights—both on the board and in terms of atmosphere.
A Unique Atmosphere Captured from Above
The vibrant mood in the playing hall was beautifully captured in a drone video—a visual highlight that vividly conveys the spirit of the tournament.
Chess Art at Its Finest: Round 6
The most spectacular moves of the day came in the draw between Ian Nepomniachtchi and David Anton. Between moves 7 and 13, both players sacrificed their minor pieces five times —each one rated as brilliant by the engine. A true masterpiece, even though a few inaccuracies followed later in the game.
A Solid Day for Vincent Keymer
Vincent Keymer had a steady day overall. He drew his game against Aryan Chopra from India and went on to convincingly defeat Armenian grandmaster Sergei Movsesian. Movsesian played such a poor move at one point that he laughed at himself during the game—and resigned shortly afterward.
Drama at the Top Board: Time Trouble Against Carlsen
The day’s big drama unfolded in Round 7: Iranian grandmaster Parham Maghsoodloo had worked his way up to the top board to challenge Magnus Carlsen, who remains undefeated. While Maghsoodloo was under pressure, his position was not lost—until a lapse in concentration caused him to run out of time.
Disappointment and frustration were clearly visible on his face afterward (Photo: ChessBase India).
Exciting Finale in the A-Open
In the A-Open, Indian player Aswath S leads the standings with 6.5 out of 7 points. He is followed by four players with 6 points each: Nikita Vitiugov (England), Mahammad Muradli (Azerbaijan), Valery Kazakouski (Lithuania), and Daniil Yuffa (Spain).
High Tension Ahead of the Final Rounds
Spectators can look forward to an exciting finish: Magnus Carlsen will face Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan), while Vincent Keymer takes on Andrey Esipenko (FIDE). Keymer still has realistic chances of securing a coveted spot in the Freestyle tournament in Las Vegas—a spot for which Carlsen is already qualified.
Draw Ceremony with High-Profile Guests
Tomorrow’s draw for the starting positions will be conducted by Jan Henric Buettner and his wife Holly. Through his commitment, Buettner has helped raise the profile of Freestyle Chess to a new level. His Freestyle organization is, alongside grenke, one of the tournament’s main sponsors.