German chess is playing at the top again!
For the first time in his young career, German chess player Vincent Keymer (18) defeated Norwegian Magnus Carlsen (32), the world’s best player.
The World Cup is currently taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. In the fourth round, 18-year-old Keymer had to face Carlsen on Wednesday. And in the first game, Carlsen made a bad blunder – on move 36. Keymer converted the Norwegian’s mistake and steered his pieces to victory. Carlsen had to retire on move 58.
However: Carlsen was able to take his revenge on Thursday and won the second game. A tiebreak must bring the decision.
The jump-off will be held on Friday: First, two rapid chess games will be played. Rapid chess means: The players have a total of at least 10 minutes for all moves, but no more than 60 minutes.
The World Cup is one of the most important tournaments in international chess. Over three and a half weeks, 206 players in the open tournament and 103 players in the women’s tournament determined winners. The top three qualify for the eight-man Candidates Tournament, with the winner going up against reigning world champion Ding Liren (30).
To explain: Although Carlsen is considered the strongest chess player, he was world champion from 2013 to 2023. However, he had refused to defend the world champion title for reasons of motivation. That’s why in April 2023 the Russian Jan Nepomnjaschtschi (33) and the Chinese Liren played for the title.
Ding Liren (30, left) in a world champion game against Jan Nepomnjaschtschi (33, right)
Keymer lost to Carlsen at the World Rapid Championship
The fact that the winner of the Keymer-Carlsen duel is now determined in rapid chess could trigger bad memories for the 18-year-old.
Because: At the end of December 2022, Keymer had just missed his first world championship title – namely in rapid chess. At that time, the German from Saulheim (Rhineland-Palatinate) finished second behind Carlsen.
Exceptional player Vincent Keymer
Vincent Keymer is regarded as an exceptional German talent. He is the youngest German chess grandmaster of all time – he won the title at the age of 14 years, eleven months and four days.
Keymer’s parents are musicians. Father Christof teaches piano at the university, mother Heike plays the cello in the orchestra. At the age of five Vincent learned chess, after a few months he beat his father.
He has been one of the 100 best chess players in the world since April 2022 and one of the 50 best since July 2022. In October 2022 he rose to Super Grandmaster. Keymer is currently 34th in the world rankings.