World champion D Gukesh was eliminated from the Freestyle Grand Slam chess tournament on Monday after suffering a second consecutive loss in the quarterfinal stage.
Competing against the renowned American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh faced a must-win situation following his loss in the first game, where he played with the white pieces. The decisive match turned quickly as Caruana demonstrated his tactical superiority, finishing the contest in a mere 18 moves.
The match not only marked a setback for Gukesh but also underscored the unpredictable nature of the freestyle chess format. In this innovative variant, 960 random starting positions are generated by rearranging the pieces on the back rank while leaving the pawns intact. This approach, initially advocated by the legendary Bobby Fischer, has gained significant attention in recent years.
The infusion of substantial prize money and global interest in the format hints at a promising future for this variant of chess, potentially reshaping how the game is played and enjoyed. Despite the disappointment, Gukesh’s journey in the tournament is not over. He now faces the challenge of fighting for one of the last-four spots, giving him an opportunity to redeem himself in the later stages of the competition.
