Chess960, commonly referred to as Fischer Random Chess, was introduced by the legendary Bobby Fischer in 1996 and has remained an enigma for enthusiasts and players alike. This chess variant randomizes the initial arrangement of pieces on the back rank, thereby diminishing the influence of opening theory and encouraging innovative strategies during play. The inaugural leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Germany proved to be a significant revelation for fans, as Vincent Keymer triumphed over renowned players such as Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, emerging victorious at Weissenhaus.

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour is centered around the Chess960 variant, and the opening tournament generated considerable excitement regarding this format. For Indian supporters, it was a bittersweet experience, as D Gukesh faced a winless streak, ultimately finishing in eighth place. The reigning world champion exhibited formidable form prior to the Grand Slam event.

In an interview with ChessBase India, Gukesh’s chief trainer, Grzegorz Gajewski, provided his insights on why many top grandmasters struggled to perform at Weissenhaus, emphasizing that it presented a completely different challenge compared to the standard variant.

‘It’s competely different': Judit Polgar

On the sidelines of the Weissenhaus Grand Slam event, chess icon Judit Polgar concurred with Gajewski’s assessment during her interview with ChessBase India.

The situation is markedly different, as it necessitates a distinct mindset and a set of priorities that diverge from what we are accustomed to. As previously mentioned, the pursuit of harmony must be approached with a concrete perspective. Concurrently, it is essential to adopt a strategic viewpoint. Today was particularly intriguing, as there were two games featuring pawn plays, notably involving Gukesh and another competitor. The advancement of their pawns was rather unconventional. This raises the question of which pawn to advance, as it is contingent upon the positions of the queen and bishop. Consequently, one must contemplate the initial move, taking into account whether the a7, h7, or b7 pawn is vulnerable or unprotected, and then devise a strategy accordingly, she remarked.

For instance, Magnus expressed frustration over his inability to advance his knight to g6 due to the positions of knight f3 and knight g5, as noted yesterday. There are numerous subtle details that are unfamiliar to us, necessitating a fresh perspective. I believe there are very few elements from classical chess thinking that can be reliably applied in this context. Nonetheless, I find it quite fascinating, particularly for those who wish to express their creativity at every level, she continued.

Freestyle Chess has announced Gukesh’s participation in the upcoming Grand Slam event, set to take place in April in Paris. Additionally, Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa will accompany him, forming a formidable three-member Indian team.

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