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High voltage pairing for Magnus Carlsen in R8 of Grenke Chess 2025 [the full story]

21 Apr, 2025by gprevenasΣκακιστικά νέα

Magnus Carlsen continues to showcase his natural talent and chess skills at the Grenke Freestyle Chess 2025 tournament. Yesterday he was with perfect 5,0/7 and today he continued his rampage by winning against Awonder Liang in round 6 and against Parham Maghsoodloo in round 7. His perfect score performance rating for 7/7 is 3094 CPR (read more about CPR here)

While everyone is thinking about a possible 9,0/9, ahead of Carlsen is a high voltage pairing. Round 8 of Grenke Freestyle Chess will see Rauf Mamedov – Magnus Carlsen on board 1.

The story of this game began in October 2022. Just weeks after Magnus Carlsen shocked the chess world after resigning against Hans Niemann on the move 2 during the Julius Baer Generation Cup, the Azerbaijani grandmaster Rauf Mamedov had the same reaction yesterday during the Late Titled Tuesday played on chess.com. Rauf Mamedov resigned his Round 10 game against Magnus Carlsen on the second move and did not play the last 11th round of the tournament. Mamedov had white pieces and started with 1.e4, when Carlsen answered with Borg Defense – 1…g5. Rauf decided to resign.

In the interview for sports.ru, Mamedov revealed he almost got banned from the platform for resigning on the second move: “Fillimonov from Crestbook wrote to me asking why I left the tournament. I answered that because of 1…g5. And on Wednesday morning the journalist got in touch and told me that I almost been banned [from chess.com] after this incident on Chess.com“.

Rauf explained that he didn’t want to continue the game after seeing Carlsen’s 1…g5 as he didn’t want to allow Magnus to make fun of him: “Titled Tuesday gathers strong lineups, all people come here to play chess, maybe someone will make money. And then – 1.e4 g5! Well, I decided not to continue … If you come to mock us, then without me. I don’t think I’m right and so on, but I definitely don’t want to participate in something like that. (…) The move 1…g5 in a prize tournament, moreover when the World Champion makes it, is wrong… There are always more expectations from a game against Carlsen than anyone else, but instead of that, mockery“.

More stories like this are coming in the Chessdom Newsletter, that starts this week (yes, now!). The Chessdom bulletin is FREE, signup in the form below

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Now, two and a half years later, Rauf Mamedov and Magnus Carlsen will meet again. This time in a chess variant where a move like 1…g5 might actually be the best, depending on the starting position.

More about Grenke Live games / Information Interviews Rasmus Svane about the secret to finding the best first move in Freestyle chess / Chess speaks for itself, with Hans Niemann at Grenke / Alexander Grischuk: “I prefer blitz, rapid of freestyle” Chess Song No Foolin’ This Time (Hans Niemann)



Grenke Freestyle Chess 2025 standings


1 GM Carlsen, Magnus NOR 2837 7
2 GM Mamedov, Rauf AZE 2657 6
3 GM Esipenko, Andrey FID 2696 6
4 GM Jobava, Baadur GEO 2600 5.5
5 GM Sindarov, Javokhir UZB 2706 5.5
GM Bluebaum, Matthias GER 2662 5.5
7 GM Svane, Frederik GER 2668 5.5
8 GM Tabatabaei, M. Amin IRI 2661 5.5
9 GM Dominguez Perez, Leinier USA 2738 5.5
GM Keymer, Vincent GER 2718 5.5
GM Sarana, Alexey SRB 2672 5.5
GM Navara, David CZE 2665 5.5
13 GM Caruana, Fabiano USA 2776 5.5
GM Maghsoodloo, Parham IRI 2684 5.5
GM Van Foreest, Jorden NED 2681 5.5
16 GM Anton Guijarro, David ESP 2639 5.5
17 GM Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime FRA 2722 5.5
18 GM Liang, Awonder USA 2692 5
GM Pultinevicius, Paulius LTU 2558 5
20 GM Mendonca, Leon Luke IND 2643 5
GM Pranesh M, IND 2572 5
22 GM Mikhalevski, Victor ISR 2513 5
23 GM Nepomniachtchi, Ian RUS 2757 5
24 GM Dardha, Daniel BEL 2650 5
GM Kamsky, Gata USA 2603 5
GM Gokerkan, Cem Kaan TUR 2489 5
27 GM Le, Quang Liem VIE 2729 5
GM Rapport, Richard HUN 2722 5
IM Hacker, Jonas GER 2370 5
30 GM So, Wesley USA 2748 5
GM Yu, Yangyi CHN 2714 5
GM Svane, Rasmus GER 2625 5
33 GM Erigaisi Arjun, IND 2782 5
GM Robson, Ray USA 2692 5
GM Oparin, Grigoriy USA 2660 5
GM Grandelius, Nils SWE 2640 5
GM Grigoriants, Sergey HUN 2552 5
38 GM Karthikeyan, Murali IND 2651 5
GM Piorun, Kacper POL 2577 5
40 GM Grischuk, Alexander RUS 2682 5
GM Kadric, Denis MNE 2533 5
42 IM Assaubayeva, Bibisara KAZ 2494 5
43 GM Huschenbeth, Niclas GER 2601 5
GM Fridman, Daniel GER 2582 5
45 IM Druska, Juraj SVK 2442 4.5
46 WGM Heinemann, Josefine GER 2342 4.5
47 GM Niemann, Hans Moke USA 2736 4.5
48 GM Aryan Chopra, IND 2620 4.5
GM Yoo, Christopher Woojin USA 2588 4.5
IM Sorensen, Hampus SWE 2436 4.5
51 GM Klekowski, Maciej POL 2474 4.5
52 GM Aronian, Levon USA 2747 4.5
GM Erdogmus, Yagiz Kaan TUR 2618 4.5
GM Sonis, Francesco ITA 2576 4.5
55 GM Smeets, Jan NED 2568 4.5
56 GM Livaic, Leon CRO 2536 4.5
57 GM Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. IND 2749 4.5
GM Movsesian, Sergei ARM 2591 4.5
IM Koelle, Tobias GER 2459 4.5
Boev, Viktor BUL 2235 4.5
61 IM Leisch, Lukas AUT 2407 4.5
62 GM Schoppen, Casper NED 2529 4.5
IM Loeffler, Stefan GER 2345 4.5
64 IM Kilic, Eray TUR 2473 4.5
IM Beltran Rueda, Santiago ESP 2278 4.5
66 GM Tang, Andrew USA 2529 4.5
CM Nissinen, Niilo Man HKG 2268 4.5
68 IM Reuker, Jari GER 2406 4.5
FM Ringuet, Noe FRA 2304 4.5
70 GM Bogner, Sebastian SUI 2545 4.5
71 IM Kucuksari, Kaan SWE 2440 4.5
IM Gschnitzer, Adrian GER 2430 4.5
IM Langheinrich, Ferenc GER 2347 4.5
CM Soucek, Jan CZE 2309 4.5
75 FM Hoeffer, David GER 2295 4.5
76 GM Deviatkin, Andrei RUS 2442 4.5
77 GM Bacrot, Etienne FRA 2633 4
78 Kukushkin, Ivan BUL 2030 4
79 GM Kollars, Dmitrij GER 2623 4
80 FM Zienkiewicz, Jan FRA 2348 4
81 GM Yankelevich, Lev GER 2413 4
FM Szalay-Ocsak, Bank HUN 2126 4
83 GM Wirig, Anthony FRA 2433 4
FM Sklokin, Sergey FID 2305 4
85 IM Dionisi, Thomas FRA 2410 4
86 GM Raja Harshit, IND 2474 4
87 IM Dobrikov, Marco GER 2404 4
88 IM Pantzar, Milton SWE 2445 4
FM Dauner, Benedikt GER 2324 4
Jeschke, Jan GER 2139 4
91 IM Wagner, Dinara GER 2435 4
92 FM Dathe, Frederick GER 2311 4
WGM Berend, Elvira LUX 2252 4
CM Kumala, Aleksander POL 2131 4
Paeslack, Luis GER 2032 4
96 IM Rosner, Jonas GER 2430 4
FM Moehn, Hans GER 2385 4
FM Dragicevic, Drazen SWE 2334 4
IM Seul, Georg GER 2329 4
FM Moritz, Aron GER 2305 4
Kearns, Christopher GER 2186 4
Wolter, Detlev GER 2169 4
Kremser, Michael GER 2024 4
104 IM Hess, Max GER 2400 4
FM Miller, Eduard GER 2338 4
FM Tomaszewski, Kacper POL 2330 4
FM Tuncer, Tuna TUR 2328 4
CM Meyers, Mark GER 2267 4
Zolfagharian, Kevin GER 2207 4
Shevkunov, Vladyslav USA 2050 4
111 GM Wagner, Dennis GER 2607 4
IM Thavandiran, Shiyam CAN 2398 4
FM Noy, Eyal ISR 2346 4
FM Wehner, Roland GER 2249 4
115 Morgenthaler, Stefan SUI 2074 4
Loheide, Michel GER 1955 4
117 Berresheim, Helmut GER 2033 4
118 Mueller, Elias GER 2115 4
119 WIM Muetsch, Annmarie BEL 2329 4
120 FM Mostertman, Milan NED 2218 4
121 GM Kraemer, Martin GER 2577 3.5
IM Finek, Vaclav CZE 2501 3.5
123 GM Vogel, Roven GER 2557 3.5
IM Feuerstack, Aljoscha GER 2458 3.5
FM Kueppers, Timo GER 2292 3.5
126 FM Huber, Benedikt GER 2261 3.5
Casagrande, Federico ITA 2180 3.5
128 FM Becker, Matthias GER 2320 3.5
Maisch, Julian GER 2153 3.5
130 IM Aizenberg, Benny ISR 2450 3.5
CM Germer, Philipp GER 2129 3.5
132 FM Franc, Borna CRO 2281 3.5
133 IM Injac, Teodora SRB 2455 3.5
Stichter, Constantin Paul GER 2189 3.5
CM Heron, Andrew LIE 2100 3.5
136 IM Bournel, Antoine FRA 2423 3.5
IM Souleidis, Georgios GRE 2418 3.5
Szakmary, Domonkos HUN 2154 3.5
139 FM Gallasch, Jonas GER 2277 3.5
FM Jahncke, Giso GER 2241 3.5
FM Olsson, Linus SWE 2166 3.5
Kuehn, Kolja GER 2126 3.5
Herms Agullo, Jordi ESP 2068 3.5
144 FM Ruiz Buendia, Miguel ESP 2353 3.5
FM Poeck, Ole GER 2304 3.5
FM Ciolek, Andreas GER 2198 3.5
Schimnatkowski, Lukas GER 2185 3.5
Blaschke, Henri Johannes GER 1964 3.5
149 IM Brendel, Oliver GER 2278 3.5
Hess, Markus, Dr. GER 2057 3.5
151 IM Song, Julien FRA 2309 3.5
IM Zatonskih, Anna USA 2300 3.5
CM Sliwicki, Damian POL 2157 3.5
154 IM Lammers, Markus GER 2304 3.5
Wu, Luka GER 2109 3.5
Doenitz, Christian, Dr. GER 2015 3.5
157 IM Abel, Dennes GER 2389 3.5
IM Cotonnec, Melkior FRA 2265 3.5
FM Moeller, Hendrik GER 2217 3.5
Duson, Robin NED 2131 3.5
161 Ahner, Thomas GER 2164 3.5
Schinkowski, Christoph GER 2130 3.5
163 Dieterle, Patrik GER 2125 3.5
164 CM Laemmel, Sebastian GER 2210 3.5
165 IM Scholz, Christian, Dr. GER 2284 3
Koehler, Christian Friedrich GER 2223 3
167 GM Abergel, Thal FRA 2415 3
FM Ruff, Maximilian GER 2235 3
169 Leck, Gerrit GER 2028 3
170 CM Ferey, Antonin FRA 2236 3
Diyap, Murat GER 2168 3
Lohr, Maximilian GER 2151 3
Isacesco, Frederic FRA 2066 3
174 Ellis, Antoine FRA 2156 3
175 Tischler, Michel AUT 2080 3
176 IM Pastar, Slaven BIH 2359 3
Richter, Leonard GER 2198 3
Klein, Joachim GER 2186 3
179 IM Krause, Benedict GER 2420 3
180 GM Basso, Pier Luigi ITA 2508 3
FM Knudsen, Simon GER 2289 3
FM Bach, Matthias GER 2207 3
Colonetti, Fabio ITA 2170 3
CM Quilter, Thomas A ENG 2162 3
FM Bremond, Eric FRA 2129 3
Geist, Tim GER 2054 3
187 FM Mundorf, Johannes GER 2288 3
FM Loew, Gerald GER 2142 3
Tibke, Jonas GER 2030 3
Rombach, Michael GER 2019 3
191 Brandt, Sebastian GER 2198 3
Vogel, Constantin GER 2193 3
Schoettker, Jochen GER 1955 3
194 Thomsen, Phil GER 2156 3
195 FM Balint, Vilmos HUN 2140 3
Schormann, Conrad GER 2111 3
Heinke, Jasper GER 2052 3
Rosenboom, Niko GER 2030 3
Degro, Heiko GER 1948 3
200 Dietze, Sebastian GER 2151 3
Ott, Mathias GER 2017 3
202 FM Zieher, Hartmut GER 2144 3
Hofmann, Lorenz GER 2104 3
204 Schallner, Marc GER 2101 3
Alshihawi, Obai GER 1963 3
206 Uhlmann, Tim GER 2108 3
207 Farmani Anosheh, Yasha GER 2114 3
Bratu, Mircea GER 2046 3
209 Stork, Christopher GER 2132 3
210 Mrotzek, Alexander GER 2071 3
211 WFM Khrapko, Marharyta GER 2146 2.5
212 Kribben, Matthias, Dr. GER 2060 2.5
213 Zenari, Marco ITA 2142 2.5
214 IM Zeller, Frank GER 2318 2.5
215 Hillermann, Vinzenz GER 2227 2.5
Kommer, Bas NED 2086 2.5
Braeutigam, Thomas GER 2032 2.5
218 Gramb, Marius GER 2165 2.5
Kern, Nicolas FRA 2080 2.5
220 FM Haag, Wolfgang GER 2175 2.5
Arns, Alexander GER 1985 2.5
222 Pfatteicher, Lukas GER 2210 2.5
Wu, Leon GER 2067 2.5
Wadhwa, Aayush USA 1916 2.5
225 Keller, Yannik GER 2083 2.5
226 Bahmann, Micha GER 2061 2.5
Werner, Martin, Dr. GER 2021 2.5
Valean, David-Andrei GER 1961 2.5
229 Nickel, Arno GER 2052 2.5
Wong, Yen-Hsiu Elliot SGP 1987 2.5
Seidel, Knut GER 1974 2.5
232 Musaelyan, Arshavir SUI 1961 2.5
Kuever, Bastian GER 1920 2.5
234 Heyl, Thomas GER 1935 2.5
235 Tencati, Giuseppe ITA 2031 2.5
236 Hell, Pascal FRA 2103 2.5
237 Baeumer, Frank GER 1966 2.5
238 Nickel, Ruediger GER 1983 2
239 Leck, Jakob GER 2046 2
Leibbrand, Udo GER 2027 2
Bleuzen, Cedric FRA 2003 2
242 Player, Edmund C ENG 2161 2
243 Cervelli, Eduard SUI 2052 2
244 Medvedovski, Michael GER 2058 2
245 Aleskerov, Faik AZE 2315 2
FM Ahn, Martin BEL 2124 2
Siegert, Gregor GER 2113 2
Nicolai, Tim GER 2053 2
249 Hematyar, Fardin NED 1990 2
250 Barthel, Ansgar GER 2042 2
Cabela, Filip CZE 2000 2
252 Emans, Job NED 2134 2
Wagner, Bernd GER 2069 2
Gold, Jan Christian GER 1997 2
255 Luhn, Robert GER 1988 2
256 Hoffmann, Jens GER 2057 2
Spieker, Michael GER 2024 2
258 CM Sadeghi, Hassan Roger SUI 2038 2
259 Germer, Marcel GER 2130 2
Gabriel, Josef GER 1994 2
WFM Matskevich, Varvara POL 1989 2
262 Stara, Zuzana CZE 2060 2
Markina, Sofiia CZE 1887 2
264 Steinhart, Karl-Heinz GER 2110 2
Wiesner, Alexander GER 1962 2
Schottmueller, Christoph GER 1943 2
267 D’angerio, Alessandro ITA 2106 2
268 Bugaj, Hanna POL 1953 2
269 Hoffmann, Tim GER 2011 1.5
270 Merz, Leander GER 1957 1.5
271 Dunn, Andrew M ENG 2117 1.5
Sesselmann, Christoph GER 2031 1.5
273 IM Caprio, Guido ITA 2405 1.5
FM Fichter, Fabian GER 2235 1.5
Woelk, Marvin GER 1958 1.5
276 Volk, Oskar GER 2001 1.5
277 Schaub, Marc FRA 1956 1.5
278 GM Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar AZE 2748 1.5
279 Precour, Juergen GER 2010 1.5
280 Hoffmann, Achim Gunter AUS 2035 1.5
281 Richter, Daniel SUI 1937 1.5
282 Narr, Kevin GER 2128 1.5
Reimold, Jonas GER 2039 1.5
284 Jaeschke, Benno GER 2008 1
285 Standhartinger, Joachim AUT 1980 1
286 De Silva, Joel Niels GER 2142 1
Schmitt, Hans Walter GER 1986 1
Mueller, Mark GER 1979 1
289 CM Hauser, Carlos, Dr. GER 2219 1
290 Huhn, Stefan GER 2076 1
291 Hamid, Emran GER 2203 1
292 Haxhiaj, Premtim GER 1963 1
293 Sessler, Joachim, Dr. GER 2178 1
294 Wiesner, Frank GER 2048 0.5
295 Halas, Julia GER 1978 0.5
296 CM Gottstein, Claudius-Thomas GER 2113 0
297 Falk, Ulrich, Prof. Dr. GER 2238 0