Media365
World number one Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Paris, sealing the title in dominant fashion on Monday. Carlsen defeated Hikaru Nakamura 1.5–0.5 in the final, winning the first game and drawing the second to claim the crown without needing a tiebreak.
“It felt like I never gave him any chances,” Carlsen said after lifting his first Grand Slam trophy in this innovative format. His performance through the knockout rounds was flawless, as he won all his matches in classical time control without requiring any rapid or blitz deciders.
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Along with the title, Carlsen took home the $200,000 first prize, reinforcing his supremacy in this new hybrid format that combines creativity with classical rigor.
In the third-place playoff, Fabiano Caruana edged out Vincent Keymer, also winning 1.5–0.5. Caruana, who secured the first game and held a superior position in the second, booked his spot in the next Grand Slam event in the USA this July with his podium finish.
The Paris leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam showcased top-tier competition in a refreshing format, and Carlsen once again proved he remains the man to beat in any variant of the game.
