Bengaluru: Vincent Keymer rotated a seized white pawn between his fingers, fully aware that his defeat was imminent. The 20-year-old German recognized the situation as he faced Magnus Carlsen, who was examining the board with satisfaction over his victory.

Keymer ultimately resigned, prompting an eruption of applause from the audience, while Carlsen was quickly engulfed by a throng of eager fans. The Norwegian world No.1 had etched his name in history by triumphing at the Grenke Chess Freestyle Open with an impeccable score of 9/9.

This achievement may be compared to Bobby Fischer’s remarkable 11/11 at the 1963-64 US Championships and could even be regarded as surpassing it. It is particularly fitting that Carlsen’s unblemished victory occurred in the Fischer Random or Chess 960 format, which Fischer devised as a counter to the emphasis on theory, memorization, and preparation in chess. 'I have never accomplished this before, and I certainly won’t be able to replicate it,' Carlsen expressed with satisfaction shortly thereafter. 'It’s simply extraordinary.

I was aware that there was a possibility of this happening today (Sunday), but I didn’t truly believe it until the very end when it became certain. It’s a mix of relief and joy... it’s a performance that is rarely, if ever, experienced.' Carlsen’s victory at Grenke, accompanied by a €60,000 prize, came just days after he secured the Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour without requiring a tiebreak in the knockout phase.

What makes Carlsen’s accomplishment remarkable is his consistent dominance across various formats—classical, rapid, blitz, and now Fischer Random, which was anticipated to be challenging and create a level playing field due to the absence of opening theory. He stepped away from classical chess and opted not to defend his world title (having won it five times), as the pursuit no longer seemed enjoyable and the preparation burdensome. He embraced Fischer Random for its unpredictability, chaos, and the opportunity for new challenges. 'Carlsen is repeating the same error in his new game as he did in...

Carlsen’s aura was hard to miss in the tournament. Ahead of his game against eight-time French champion Etienne Bacrot, Carlsen was met with an unusual request. Bacrot pulled out his phone and clicked a selfie with Carlsen as the arbiter waited patiently. Both before and after games in the German city of Karlsruhe, Carlsen was surrounded and followed by crowds, hunting for autographs and selfies. “There’s nowhere to hide,” Carlsen smiled, “That’s why I don’t play too many of these (open) tournaments.”

Prior to the commencement of the ninth and final round, Jan Henrik Buettner, the German entrepreneur and founder of the Freestyle series, was present in the playing hall. Keymer, who had triumphed in the first Freestyle event of the year held in Weissenhaus, appeared to be engaged in a valiant contest, with the position seemingly balanced until he encountered time difficulties, causing the game to slip from his grasp. "The final match against Keymer was somewhat of a battle," Carlsen remarked.

"I primarily focused on maintaining my position throughout the game. He fell behind on time, I seized my opportunities, and that is how history was made." Carlsen had already secured victory in the Grenke event with a round remaining, and his performance against Keymer allowed him to conclude the event flawlessly.

"It is quite gratifying to be seated at the board, knowing that I will genuinely relish the experience of playing a game, as this is not always the case during tournaments... I compete for the sheer enjoyment of the game, and these minor accomplishments are merely bonuses, even if they are significant ones."

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