Concluding the group stage in Weissenhaus, the Norwegian player finished with a +3 score, achieving three wins, three draws, and one loss, earning 4.5 points after 7 games. Only one point separated Carlsen from fifth-placed Hans Niemann, highlighting the narrow gap between the top contenders. Alongside Carlsen, the three other players who advanced to the semifinals all secured 4 points: Vincent Keymer, Fabiano Caruana, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

Carlsen during his first group stage game against Niemann at the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026, in Weissenhaus, Germany on 13/2. Photo: Chess

Despite previously relinquishing his World Champion title, Carlsen currently holds two FIDE world titles in rapid and blitz chess. He is now aiming for his first world title in the Chess960 format. Carlsen's determination was clear before the games, as he voiced dissatisfaction with the press conference's timing, held too close to the start of a game.

Under this year's format, the four players ranked lowest in the group stage were immediately eliminated from the championship race, losing the chance to compete for the USD 100,000 first prize. Carlsen admitted he liked the "do-or-die" nature of the tournament.

In his first game against Niemann, Carlsen held a winning position in the middlegame but squandered it, settling for a draw as time ran short. However, he quickly regained his rhythm with sharp tactics in subsequent games.

Against Javokhir Sindarov, Carlsen played 49.b3, advancing a pawn to set a checkmate trap with the idea of moving his rook to b7 to end the game. The Uzbek player, the reigning chess World Cup champion, missed this threat. Consequently, the Norwegian player pushed a pawn to g8 to promote, clearing the way for his rook to capture the b7 pawn. This move caused Sindarov to lose momentum.

Sindarov looking frustrated after falling into Carlsen's checkmate trap. Photo: screenshot

Carlsen continued to demonstrate his familiar ability to turn games around. Against Levon Aronian, he found himself in a losing position but created a knight fork to capture a bishop. Against Vincent Keymer, he drew after 87 tense moves.

The biggest highlight came in his match against Fabiano Caruana. Despite pressure, the American player could not avoid an endgame checkmate trap. Grandmaster Judit Polgar called it Carlsen's "endgame magic."

The victory over Caruana gave Carlsen four points with two rounds remaining in the group stage, almost guaranteeing a semifinal spot. However, he stumbled in the penultimate round, losing to Arjun Erigaisi. The Indian opponent made 9 consecutive good moves, gaining a decisive advantage.

In the final round, Carlsen only needed a draw, so he adopted a pragmatic approach. Against Abdusattorov, he gained a small advantage and steered the game to a draw, securing his advancement and the top spot. Topping the group allowed Carlsen to choose his semifinal opponent, and he opted to face Abdusattorov again.

The semifinals will feature four 25+10 games; if tied, a 10-minute armageddon game will decide the winner. The other bracket will see Keymer and Caruana face off. The semifinals begin at 21h today, 14/2, Hanoi time.

The FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 marks the first time FIDE has organized a world championship in the Chess960 format since the FIDE World Fischer Random Chess Championship 2022, which Hikaru Nakamura won. This year's tournament gathered eight players, who competed in a rapid chess round-robin to select the four semifinalists. Prior to this event, Carlsen had won 22 "World" titles and 20 FIDE World Championships.

Xuan Binh (according to Chess)