World Champion Gukesh’s Winless Start Shakes Up Freestyle Chess Grand Tour

The opening day of the highly anticipated Freestyle Chess Grand Tour in Weissenhaus, Germany, delivered immediate drama, not least for the reigning World Champion, D. Gukesh. In an unexpected turn of events, the young Indian grandmaster concluded the first five rounds without a single victory, navigating a challenging field to score just 2 points from a possible 5.

A Day of Draws and One Tactical Slip

Gukesh`s day consisted of four hard-fought draws and one decisive loss. While draws are commonplace in top-level chess, failing to convert any position into a win across five games is an uncharacteristic performance for a player of his caliber, especially the World Champion.

His games unfolded as follows:

• Starting against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Gukesh found himself defending skillfully in an endgame, ultimately holding the Uzbek prodigy to a draw despite pressure.
• The sole loss arrived in the second round against Alireza Firouzja. Under positional strain, Gukesh reportedly blundered, offering his opponent a forced mate-in-two, leading to immediate resignation. A tough moment, to say the least.
• A relatively quiet third round saw a draw against the experienced Levon Aronian.
• Perhaps the most precarious moment came in round four against Javokhir Sindarov. Gukesh endured significant disadvantage throughout the game, appearing on the brink of defeat. However, a late endgame inaccuracy by Sindarov provided Gukesh with an escape route, allowing him to salvage a crucial half-point.
• The final game of the day against Hikaru Nakamura presented a different scenario. Gukesh emerged from the opening with a promising position but reportedly consumed considerable time. Under clock pressure, subsequent inaccuracies diluted his advantage. Despite this, Nakamura, known for his tactical acumen, was unable to exploit the chances, resulting in a draw – mirroring Nakamura`s own tally of four draws and one loss for the day.

The Unpredictable Landscape of Freestyle Chess

The results across the board underscored the chaotic beauty of the Freestyle Chess format, also known as Chess960. With randomized starting positions, players are immediately pushed out of their extensive opening preparation, relying instead on raw calculation, adaptability, and fundamental chess understanding from move one. This format often levels the playing field and can lead to surprising outcomes.

Indeed, the leaderboard after Day 1 reflected this unpredictability. While Gukesh, Carlsen, and Nakamura found themselves bunched together on 2 points, the joint leaders were Fabiano Caruana and, perhaps the day`s biggest revelation, Javokhir Sindarov, both sitting comfortably on 4.5 points.

A Tumultuous Day for Other Stars

Gukesh wasn`t the only top player experiencing turbulence. Five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen also endured a wild ride, finishing the day alongside Gukesh and Nakamura with 2 points. Carlsen`s performance was a rollercoaster: a strong win against Nakamura, followed by a loss to Caruana, then a win against Keymer, and concluding with back-to-back losses to Vladimir Fedoseev and Javokhir Sindarov. A stark reminder that in Freestyle Chess, nobody is immune to the format`s inherent volatility.

Looking Ahead: Pressure Mounts for Day 2

With only two players being eliminated after the final four rounds on Day 2, the pressure is on for those at the lower end of the standings, including Gukesh. A strong performance is needed to secure a spot in the top 8 quarterfinals. The unique format extends into the knockout phase, where the top four players will have the strategic advantage of choosing their opponents.

For D. Gukesh, Day 1 serves as a clear indicator of the fierce competition and the unique demands of Freestyle Chess. Bouncing back from a winless start will be his primary objective as the tournament progresses in Weissenhaus.

Freestyle Chess Grand Tour, Weissenhaus – Standings After Round 5