World Champion D Gukesh lost to Magnus Carlsen in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, finishing eighth but qualifying for the knockout stage. Despite two losses and seven draws, Gukesh will face Fabiano Caruana in the quarterfinals,

Magnus Carlsen has revealed the reason why he loves the freestyle chess format. Carlsen was speaking on the sidelines of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, which he co-founded with Jan Henric Buettner in March 2024.

Magnus Carlsen, a 34-year-old Norwegian, is among the greatest chess players of all time.

This isn't just another chess tournament though, with a public spat between Carlsen and the promoters of the FCGT with FIDE in the build-up to the tournament.

Magnus Carlsen questioned the validity of classical chess as a measure of skill, favoring rapid chess. Gukesh acknowledged the quality of their championship match, while Carlsen ruled out a title clash.

The five-tournament series will unfold through the year, with Paris, New York, New Delhi and Cape Town being the other four host cities. It will end with the final competition from December 5 to 12

Just like on the first day, Gukesh was also fortunate to not have more losses to his name. He should've lost the sixth-round match against Fabiano Caruana, too, with the American gaining complete control during the endgame and having a completely winning position, only for one blunder to allow Gukesh to escape with a series of checks.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER On Friday, Magnus Carlsen begins his quest to grow the popularity of an alternative chess variant and win the tournament itself.