Lichess Coverage
Lichess will produce in-depth blog posts with annotations for each round of the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss. WIM Silvia Raluca Sgîrcea will annotate the games from the Women’s Grand Swiss and GM Renier Castellanos Rodriguez will annotate the games from the Open Grand Swiss. Lichess will also create videos for each round of the tournament, with interviews and other types of content. Keep an eye on our socials for the videos!
Annotations by GM Renier Castellanos Rodriguez
https://lichess.org/study/4kgBurog/pxl2oblO#0
Annotations by WIM Silvia Raluca Sgîrcea
https://lichess.org/study/4kgBurog/tbxE1uTa#0
Open Overview
After a quick draw between GM Nodirbek Abudsattorov and GM Matthias Blübaum, which saw the latter retain his lead, three more players joined Blübaum in the lead: GM Alireza Firouzja, who won against GM Nihal Sarin, GM Vincent Keymer, who emerged victorious against GM Parham Maghsoodloo, and GM Anish Giri, who bested his compatriot, GM Jorden van Foreest. There are seven players In the chasing pack on 6/9.
Open Leaderboard
The Top 10 Boards
In a highly complicated, tactical game, GM Nihal Sarin missed his chance against GM Alireza Firouzja on move 17, eschewing the correct 17. Nd6+! in favor of 17. f4?. From that point forward, the game shifted in Firouzja’s favor, but Sarin was not worse up until he blundered with 37. Bf3??, allowing Firouzja to win an important pawn. Sarin fought valiantly from then on, having a chance to come back to the game on move 60. Unfortunately for Sarin, in time pressure, he did not find the resource and began to lose the thread of the game, losing on move 82.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/gY7lkSNW#0
GM Nihal Sarin vs. GM Alireza Firouzja
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
GM Parham Maghsoodloo, the former leader of the tournament, is now mathematically almost out of contention for the two Candidates spots as he lost a very tough game today against GM Vincent Keymer, who played the middlegame position with stunning understanding. Keymer was rewarded for his enterprising opening pawn sacrifice, 12…g5!!, as Maghsoodloo immediately played inaccurately. That was the first moment of the game when Keymer wrested the advantage away from Maghsoodloo, and Keymer indeed never let go of the edge for the remainder of the game.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/GZR0GM37#0
GM Parham Maghsoodloo vs. GM Vincent Keymer
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
GM Nodirbek Abudsattorov played a relatively staid, quick draw against GM Matthias Blübaum as he went for an intriguing sideline of the Petrov’s Defense which resembled the Konstantinopolsky.
GM Nodirbek Abudsattorov vs. GM Matthias Blübaum
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
In the double Dutch encounter, after accurate play from both sides, GM Anish Giri and GM Jorden van Foreest’s game seemed to be headed toward a draw, but an abrupt blunder by van Foreest shifted the tide, gifting Giri to a winning bishop vs. knight endgame.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/Vc7QJqJD#0
GM Anish Giri vs. GM Jorden van Foreest
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
GM Arjun Erigaisi’s game against GM Samuel Sevian also showed a similar pattern to the aforementioned game as the game was level for a while, up until Sevian blundered with 35…Kh8??, allowing 36. Ne5!, with the key tactical point that makes the entire line work being 38. Rd8!!. Arjun found all the right moves and won his game in style.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/RcvMmDpO#0
GM Arjun Erigaisi vs. GM Samuel Sevian
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
In another marathon game of round 10, GM Hans Moke Niemann kept trying to push his advantage against GM Abhimanyu Mishra, but Mishra, who is slowly becoming well-known for his defensive prowess, held it all together and forced Hans to call it a day on move 104.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/dBH0jNqw#0
GM Hans Moke Niemann vs. GM Abhimanyu Mishra
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has been playing a very decisive tournament, winning five games, losing two, and drawing two. Today, he was able to best the in-form GM Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş, who faced a stunning (pseudo-)piece sacrifice by Vachier-Lagrave. From then on, Vachier-Lagrave manitaned an advantage. Soon, the advantage snowballed after inaccurate play from Erdoğmuş, handing Vachier-Lagrave a technically winning endgame, which he duly converted.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/ertc3Hld#0
GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. GM Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
GM Yu Yangyi was pressing for most of his game against GM Marc’Andria Maurizzi, winning after the latter started going astray on move 59.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/ZG0I8wyX#0
Meanwhile, GM R Praggnanandhaa’s game against GM Awonder Liang was also very exciting and involved a piece sacrifice by Praggnanandhaa, but both sides were playing with phenomenal precision, making a draw the logical conclusion of the game.
GM R Praggnanandhaa vs. GM Awonder Liang
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
Similarly, an opening piece sacrifice by GM Ivan Šarić against GM Ian Nepomniachtchi promised a game full of fireworks, but both sides seemed to know the opening well, and the game was ultimately a very correct draw.
GM Ivan Šarić vs. GM Ian Nepomniachtchi
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
Notable Games
GM V Pranav uncharacteristically blundered a piece against GM M. Amin Tabatabaei, gifting the latter a straightforward victory.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/Af1GiJ0l#0
GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov bounced back from yesterday’s loss with a dominant victory against GM Abhimanyu Puranik, winning in just 35 moves after he was much better in the opening.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/CVfe8pfY#0
GM Javokhir Sindarov has quietly fought his way back to the top boards, winning in what was a well-played endgame against GM Maksim Chigaev.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/45gfjS7u#0
GM Alexei Shirov, the third oldest player in the field, remains without any losses; today, he was able to win his second game of the tournament against GM Jonas Buhl Bjerre, a player 32 years his junior.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/OBOOJikw#0
In his second loss of the tournament, and his second loss against teenagers under the age of 16, GM Levon Aronian lost to GM Andy Woodward as the latter defended very well against Aronian’s attack.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/yjcfrpL8#0
Flashy Games
GM Nodirbek Yakubboev played a rare, correct piece sacrifice against GM Anton Demchenko’s Queen’s Gambit Accepted, winning a crushing game as Demchenko could not find a way to castle quickly.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/t5X4wix7#0
GM Vasyl Ivanchuk created an attack out of nowhere against GM Etienne Bacrot, pushing his g-pawn up the board and winning the game promptly thereafter.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/FpwTKfvI/0BfN0Bdj#0
Women’s Overview
After narrowly escaping against GM Bibisara Assaubayeva, GM Kateryna Lagno retains her sole lead with an impressive 7/9 score. Four players, namely, GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, GM Bibisara Assaubayeva, GM Tan Zhongyi, and IM Song Yuxin, are within striking distance on 6.5/9, while two other players, GM Irina Krush and GM Mariya Muzychuk, are half a point behind on 6/9.
Women’s Leaderboard
The Top 10 Boards
GM Bibisara Assaubayeva was well on her way to solely leading the tournament, but GM Kateryna Lagno was able to find a miraculous swindle as Assaubayeva allowed an easy-to-miss simplification from Black on move 42. With that slip, Lagno is the one who retains her sole lead.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/G8VL1s47#0
GM Kateryna Lagno vs. GM Bibisara Assaubayeva
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
Even though she lost twice, GM Tan Zhongyi has won a staggering six games, drawing only once in the tournament so far. Today, she was able to get the better of IM Carissa Yip, who had a large advantage at the start of the game, but eventually got outplayed by Tan, who quickly attacked Yip after the latter was close to achieving equality.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/2rPk2tOW#0
IM Carissa Yip vs. GM Tan Zhongyi
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
GM Irina Krush has greatly improved her chances of qualifying to the Candidates after she won her fourth game of the event, beating GM Antoaneta Stefanova in just 41 moves. This GM encounter saw a complicated English Opening which was more reminiscent of the Colle-Zukertort System, and while the game remained equal for quite some time, Stefanova blundered on move 23 with 23…Nxd5??, allowing 24. Rd1!, which soon picked up material.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/UtVQG5VP#0
GM Irina Krush vs. GM Antoaneta Stefanova
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
The board 2 encounter between GM Vaishali Rameshbabu and IM Song Yuxin as well as the board 4 clash between GM Olga Girya and IM Guo Qi were rather quick, correct draws, though in the former game, both Vaishali and Song had some chances to play for more.
GM Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. IM Song Yuxin
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
GM Olga Girya vs. IM Guo Qi
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
Both Muzychuk sisters were able to win today, emerging victorious in two one-sided games with the White pieces.
The two Muzychuk sisters
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
GM Mariya Muzychuk always had an advantage against GM Anna Ushenina’s Philidor Defense, but Ushenina was able to equalize a couple of times, exploiting inaccuracies from Muzychuk’s side. With a bishop vs. knight + one pair of rooks endgame on the board, though, holding the position would require a lot of accuracy from Ushenina, which she was unable to maintain.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/QsuIfhPQ#0
GM Mariya Muzychuk vs. GM Anna Ushenina
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
GM Anna Muzychuk understood the Italian Game, Giuoco Pianissimo middlegame position she had against WIM Afruza Khamdamova very well, allowing little chance for her opponent to come back into the game. Indeed, Khamdamova was only committing small inaccuracies, but that was enough for Muzychuk to pounce and convert her advantage into a win.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/ISHhwrAd#0
IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva has been playing very decisive chess in this tournament, only drawing three out of her nine games played so far. Today, she exploited IM Teodora Injac’s light-squared weaknesses and eventually created annoying threats with her central passed pawn, winning the game shortly after her pawns started marching down the board.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/iEj1dQKu#0
IM Dinara Wagner had a technically winning position against IM Polina Shuvalova, but after about six minutes of thought, she blundered with 33…b6??, allowing Shuvalova to transform the position into a 3 vs. 2 queen endgame, which she was able to draw after a long struggle.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/oxLRCpNq#0
IM Polina Shuvalova vs. IM Dinara Wagner
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
Likewise, IM Mai Narva had some chances against GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, but finding the path to victory proved to be too tricky.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/4h9RgcLC#0
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk vs. IM Mai Narva
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
IM Stavroula Tsolakidou was losing for much of her game against GM Harika Dronavalli, but Harika wrongly evaluated a pawn grab, allowing Tsolakidou to bounce back and hold the draw.
Notable Games
IM Yuliia Osmak exploited WGM Zsoka Gaal’s blunder very well, finding, in time pressure, a very aesthetically pleasing checkmate sequence.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/pnaxwyvb#0
IM Lilit Mkrtchian played an extremely complicated and topsy-turvy game against IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya, with both sides having the advantage at some point. Ultimately, Mkrtchian’s unsafe king proved too difficult to manage, even though she was close to winning even with such a precariously-placed monarch.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/tzFkBmGa#0
IM Lilit Mkrtchian vs. IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya
Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE
Flashy Game
Despite being a draw, WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet’s game against IM Oliwia Kiolbasa was very exciting.
https://lichess.org/study/embed/oC3SZ5au/HMdDvOtS#0
Pairings for Round 10 (Top 10 Boards)
Open:
| White | Black |
|---|---|
| GM Alireza Firouzja | GM Anish Giri |
| GM Vincent Keymer | GM Matthias Bluebaum |
| GM Yangyi Yu | GM Arjun Erigaisi |
| GM Sarin Nihal | GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov |
| GM Abhimanyu Mishra | GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave |
| GM Hans Moke Niemann | GM R Praggnanandhaa |
| GM Ian Nepomniachtchi | GM Nodirbek Yakubboev |
| GM M. Amin Tabatabaei | GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov |
| GM Jorden Van Foreest | GM Javokhir Sindarov |
| GM Ivan Saric | GM Santosh Gujrathi Vidit |
Women’s:
| White | Black |
|---|---|
| GM Zhongyi Tan | GM Kateryna Lagno |
| IM Yuxin Song | GM Bibisara Assaubayeva |
| GM Vaishali Rameshbabu | GM Mariya Muzychuk |
| IM Qi Guo | GM Irina Krush |
| IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva | GM Olga Girya |
| IM Polina Shuvalova | GM Anna Muzychuk |
| GM Elina Danielian | IM Yuliia Osmak |
| IM Dinara Wagner | GM Alexandra Kosteniuk |
| GM Harika Dronavalli | GM Antoaneta Stefanova |
| IM Aleksandra Maltsevskaya | IM Miaoyi Lu |