 "Magnus Carlsen falls in his own tournament as Aronian claims Freestyle Chess Grand Slam South Africa: 'A bit proud of myself'")
Magnus Carlsen failed to win the finals of a tournament he co-owns as Levon Aronian defeated the world No 1 chess player to clinch the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam 2025 in South Africa on Thursday. The American-Armenian Grandmaster defeated Norwegian Carlsen in the final. The 43-year-old won the first game and secured the trophy with a draw in the second.
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam was co-founded by German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner and five-time chess world champion Magnus Carlsen. And while Carlsen won the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour by taking an unassailable lead in the standings even before reaching the final of the Finals, he was stopped in his tracks in the last event by Aronian.
Aronian beats Carlsen in South Africa
In the battle for the $200,000 winner’s prize, Aronian clinched the final by 1.5–0.5, winning the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Finals without any loss.
Meanwhile, Vincent Keymer finished third after beating the new 2025 FIDE World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov 2–0. American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana came in fifth place by beating India’s Arjun Erigaisi 1.5–0.5.
Aronian, a former two-time world champion in Chess960, which is now called Freestyle chess, has emerged as the strongest player in the format in 2025, winning the Las Vegas Grand Slam before ending the tournament with another major victory.
He won the final of the Grand Slams finals by winning the first game in which Carlsen had a disastrous start, spending 10 minutes on 2…e5. The draw gave the position No 454 as Aronian, playing with whit pieces, started with 1.d4 and Carlsen replied with 1…f5.
Aronian responded with 2.f3 as Carlsen was trapped at the beginning.
After his win, Aronian admitted that the starting position was very difficult for black. “I thought the starting position is one of these difficult positions where it’s not really easy to understand how to react to this 1.d4,” said Aronian. “I think the starting position was quite dangerous for Black.”
He added that Carlsen should have taken the pawn back at some point instead of making the sacrifice. “My task was easier; I had a clear plan to develop. My general feeling was that he cannot afford not to take the pawn.”
How Aronian defeated Carlsen in Game 1
From thereon it was a one-man show as Aronian clinched victory in 45 moves and held onto a draw in the second game.
“I think I played really well today,” Aronian added. “I think I was more or less in control in both games, I got good positions out of the openings so I am very happy and content with my play. I am actually, I would say, a bit proud of myself.”
It wasn’t a great tournament for Carlsen by his own standards as he had earlier suffered defeats against Erigaisi and Sindarov.
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