Freestyle Formentera Chess final standings

Alexander Grischuk says that freestyle chess removes this “this idiotic 6 hours preparation for the game.” He adds, “Classical is my least preferred format, it is either blitz, rapid of freestyle”.

Alexander Grischuk about Grenke and Freestyle

Freestyle Chess Paris 2025 boasts a strong field, including world’s N1 Magnus Carlsen and World Champion Gukesh. Even after the withdraw of Alireza Firouzja and the disappearance of Hans Nieman (see this, this, this, and this) Freestyle Paris remains one of the strongest events of 2025.

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Live video broadcast from Paris Freestyle Chess 2025

Anish Giri comes with the punch line of the day, “Classical, a lot of drawing. Freestyle, a lot of withdrawing”

More from #TweetOftheDay: Tariffs in chess announced / Sorry, Magnus, your chess was too perfect! / GothamChess, “Chess prodigies are now 3 years old” / Anish Giri roasts better / All posts in #TweetOftheDay

In a message exchange seen by Norwegian TV 2, it appears that Niemann is withdrawing shortly after he was informed that organizer Jan Henric Buettner has invested in new security equipment to be able to detect cheating.

“Personal reasons” is the official reason given by the organizers for the withdraw of Niemann.

As of 01:50 CEST on April 6, there is no comment from Niemann’s camp, whether the announcement of the new anti-cheating equipment by Jan Henric Buettner and his withdraw are a coincidence, or the actual reason for the last minute leave. In the last days Niemann constantly tweeted how enthusiastic he is about Freestyle, and how he will video record the Freestyle Paris event with Kramnik being there.

Update: as of 08:00 CEST April 7 there is still no official comment from Niemann

Timeline of Hans Niemann withdrawing from Freestyle Chess Paris

05.04. Norwegian TV reports that Niemann is withdrawing after he was informed about anti-cheating
05.04 Breaking: Hans Niemann withdraws from Freestyle Chess Paris 2025 (rolling updates)
06.04 Reactions to Hans Niemann withdrawing from Paris Freestyle Chess 2025
06.04 Chess Song: Disappearing stars (Hans Niemann & Alireza Firouza) #TweetOftheDay
06.04 The organizer of Freestyle Chess Paris comments on the withdraw of Hans Niemann

Developing story, stay tuned for updates

Freestyle Paris 2025 is the second event in this year’s Freestyle Grand Slam. The best players in the world will battle it out in Freestyle chess (sometimes known as Fischer Random or Chess960) for a huge prize fund. The winner of the overall Grand Slam will definitely NOT be called the World Champion. See all details of Freestyle Paris 2025 here

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Throwback: After 19-year-old American grandmaster Hans Niemann defeated Magnus Carlsen in the third round of the Sinquefield Cup 2022, the World Chess Champion decided to withdraw from the event. Rumors that Magnus Carlsen suspected Niemann was cheating started spreading over social media and the “Carlsen – Niemann” controversy is the top news in mass media ever since. Review a comprehensive timeline of the Carlsen – Niemann events here

This year’s Grenke Chess 2025 has already broken the mythical number – 13 days to go, and we have counted 2.909 registrations for the big tournament in Karlsruhe at Easter. And more players can join to boost the number of participants even further.

Chessdom.com will be covering Grenke 2025 extensively. Check out the Grenke Chess 2025 tournament details page and scroll down for more details. Grenke Chess 2025 might coincide with the launch of the Chessdom’s newsletter that you get DAILY to your mailbox for FREE. Signup with your mail in the form below

Baden-Baden/Weissenhaus, 2025 – The traditional chess festival in Karlsruhe is continuing in a new format. Instead of the Classic Tournament alongside the Open, there will be two major Opens this year from April 17 to 21: the grenke Freestyle Chess Open and the grenke Chess Open. The two tournaments combine Freestyle Chess and classic tournament chess under the roof of the Karlsruhe Convention Center – a unique concept.

Numerous top grandmasters are expected. The 18-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, number one in the chess world and a regular guest at the grenke Chess Festival, has already confirmed his participation in the Freestyle Open. The German number one Vincent Keymer will also be taking part. Carlsen may have the opportunity in Karlsruhe to get revenge on Keymer for yesterday’s defeat in the semi-finals of the Freestyle Grand Slam in Weissenhaus.

The winner of the Freestyle Open (A) will receive a starting place for the next leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in New York (July 17-24, 2025). The top ten finishers will win points for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025.

“We are very excited about the innovative new edition. Karlsruhe stands for size and class in one place like no other city. This year, the stars will play in the grenke Freestyle Chess Open, which is open to everyone. There is no better way to combine popular and competitive sports,” says tournament director Sven Noppes. ”With the combination of classic chess and classic freestyle, we are creating a festival that is a highlight for hobby players, amateurs and the absolute world elite, and a spectacle for all spectators on site or online.”

Christian Bossert, chairman of the Baden-Baden Chess Center, expects the event to once again become the largest chess festival in the world, as it was last year, with around 2,600 participants.

Dr. Sebastian Hirsch, CEO of grenke AG: “grenke has been passionately committed to chess for decades. We invite the international chess elite to our region, bring them together and offer the winner a trip to New York. We are proud of the diversity and quality of the field of participants and keep our fingers crossed for all players for a successful tournament. I recommend that everyone stop by, because the new grenke Chess Festival offers all chess enthusiasts and the curious an unforgettable experience in Karlsruhe.”

Since the grenke Classic 2025 is not taking place, the qualification of the 2024 Open winner Hans Moke Niemann for the Classic 2025 is no longer valid. To emphasize the close ties between Freestyle Chess and longtime chess sponsor grenke, Jan Henric Buettner, CEO of Freestyle Chess, has decided to invite the US grandmaster instead for the next stage of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. The US grandmaster will receive a wildcard for the tournament in Paris (April 8-15).

“We are very pleased about the cooperation,” says Sebastian Siebrecht, Chief Chess Officer of Freestyle Chess. ‘With the Open, we are able to make the Freestyle Grand Slam accessible to a wide audience. Every player has the chance to compete against the best and qualify for one of the major events in our series.’

Two major open events, six rating classes

The Karlsruhe Chess Festival 2025 will combine two high-level tournaments, each with three rating classes:

• grenke Freestyle Chess Open with a prize fund of 225,000 euros:
  • Freestyle Open A:for players with an Elo or DWZ > 1950
    • → The winner qualifies for the New York leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam
  • Freestyle Open B: for players with an Elo and DWZ < 2000
  • Freestyle Open C: for players with a DWZ < 1400 and Elo < 1600
• grenke Open with a prize fund of 70,000 euros:
  • grenke Open A: for players with an Elo or DWZ > 1950
  • grenke Open B: for players with an Elo and DWZ < 2000
  • grenke Open C: for players with an DWZ < 1400 and Elo < 1600

Switch between tournaments

A special feature ensures maximum flexibility: Those who participate in the grenke Chess Open can switch to the grenke Freestyle Chess Open up until the 5th round and keep the points they have earned so far. This means that the festival offers a unique opportunity to opt for the freestyle format during the course of the tournament.

Tournament mode:

• Freestyle Open: 9 rounds Swiss system, 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move
• grenke Open: same format as the Freestyle Open

Register now!

Registration is now open at www.grenkechessopen.de. All further information on the schedule, tournament format and prize money is available there.