Exclusive GM Bibisar Assaubayeva: Sindarov’s World Cup win, candidate ambitions and more #chess
Carlsen sealed the title with a final score of 2.5-1.5. In the fourth and final race, he needed a draw to win and calmly held a steady position to secure the match. The turning point came in the third game when Carlsen staged a stunning comeback to win from a position that experts described as almost lost. This win gave him the lead going into the final match.This tournament is historic as it is the first official World Freestyle Chess Championship recognized by FIDE, the International Chess Governing Body. Carlsen, who is currently the world’s top-ranked player, had previously tried and failed to win the Fischer Random World Championship. With this victory, he adds the Freestyle crown to his collection, bringing his total to an amazing 21 world titles across various chess formats.In other matches, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov finished third after defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer, while Hans Niemann took fifth and Levon Aronian finished seventh. In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayev defeated former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk.The tournament offered a prize pool of $300,000, with Carlsen taking home $100,000. The top three players also qualified for the 2027 World Freestyle Championships, setting the stage for another exciting battle next year.