The King of Chess proves once again why he's in a league of his own.
Magnus Carlsen has done it again—and this time, in a format as wild as it is brilliant. On Monday, April 14, 2025, Carlsen claimed victory at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Paris, doing so without dropping a single match to a tiebreak. The Norwegian grandmaster, often hailed as the greatest player of all time, delivered a strong performance that left fans and fellow competitors in awe.
The final saw Carlsen go head-to-head with Hikaru Nakamura, a long-time rival and fellow elite player. With clinical precision, Carlsen won the final match 1.5-0.5 —rendering tiebreaks unnecessary and securing the crown in dramatic fashion.
📖 Read the full tournament recap here
What Is Freestyle Chess?
Freestyle Chess—also known as Chess960—is a bold twist on the classical game. Originally popularized by Bobby Fischer, this format scrambles the back-rank pieces into 960 possible starting positions, eliminating memorized openings and placing pure calculation and creativity at center stage. Carlsen, always an advocate for innovation in the sport, has embraced this format with gusto—and clearly, with great success.
A Statement Victory
Carlsen’s run in Paris wasn't just another tournament win—it was a statement. In a format designed to level the playing field and shake up the old playbook, the Norwegian still rises above, proving that his dominance isn’t tied to preparation—it’s rooted in an unmatched understanding of the game.
As the Freestyle Chess revolution gathers steam, it’s becoming clear that while the rules may change, Carlsen remains king.
📸 Photo: Magnus Carlsen in 2023 by Frans Peeters, licensed under CC BY 2.0
