GM Magnus Carlsen has won the 2025 Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam after what he called “a very nice, professional job” secured a draw and a 1.5-0.5 match victory over GM Hikaru Nakamura. The world number-one takes the $200,000 top prize, Nakamura gets $140,000, and GM Fabiano Caruana takes $100,000 and a spot in the Las Vegas Grand Slam after crushing GM Vincent Keymer in the battle for third place.
This is a flash report—come back later for full player quotes and analysis!
Carlsen came into the final game only needing a draw and never gave Nakamura a real chance before a draw was agreed on move 41.
World no. 1 @MagnusCarlsen dominated the Paris #FreestyleChess Grand Slam, tying for 1st in the Round Robin before beating Abdusattorov, Caruana & now Nakamura 1.5-0.5! pic.twitter.com/FHyBkCgfR6
— chess24 (@chess24com) April 14, 2025
The battle for third place saw Caruana take revenge for losing the final in Weissenhaus to Keymer. The U.S. star, who only needed a draw, got an absolutely crushing position out of the opening and was on course to win before he decided to take the draw and wrap up the match.
That’s our Game of the Day, which GM Rafael Leitao will analyze below.
This is a flash report—come back later for full player quotes and analysis!
How To Review
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Paris was the second of five events on the multi-million dollar Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. The 12 players first played each other once in 10+10 rapid chess, with the bottom four eliminated from the fight for first and the top players choosing their opponents in the Knockout. Each knockout round consisted of two-game 90+30 matches. In case of a tie, two 10+10 games were played. If still tied, two 5+2 games were played, then a single armageddon game. All games are played in freestyle chess.
Previous coverage:
- FInals Day 1: Carlsen Beats Nakamura In Thriller To Lead Final
- Semifinals Day 2: It’s A Carlsen-Nakamura Final In Paris!
- Semifinals Day 1: Nepo And Nakamura Test Caruana’s Theories
- Quarterfinals Day 2: Carlsen Escapes; Caruana, Nakamura, Keymer Also Reach Semifinals
- Quarterfinals Day 1: The Nepo Gambit Is Born, Only Carlsen Wins
- Round-Robin Day 2: Nepomniachtchi, Carlsen Tie For 1st, Gukesh Misses Out On Paris Quarterfinals
- Round-Robin Day 1: Carlsen, Abdusattorov Lead Paris Freestyle Grand Slam
- Play-in KO Day 2: Vidit Qualifies For Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Honeymoon
- Play-In KO Day 1: Vidit, Rapport, Mamedov, Tabatabaei Fight For Final Spot In Paris
- Play-In Swiss: Tabatabaei, Nguyen, Mamedov, Pranesh In Hunt For Paris Freestyle Chess Spot
- Niemann Given Surprise Paris Freestyle Wildcard, Set To Face Carlsen
- Undefeated Keymer Wins Weissenhaus Knockout
EIGHT 8″x1o” PICTURES
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