Grenke Chess Classic is an annual chess tournament held in the German cities of Karlsruhe and Baden-Baden and sponsored by Grenke AG. [1] It was held from 2013 to 2019, with the exception of 2016. The tournament returned in 2024 after a five-year hiatus with a new rapid time control (45+10) to replace the previous classical format. [2]
| # | Year | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013 |  Viswanathan Anand (India) |
| 2 | 2014 |  Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany) |
| 3 | 2015 |  Magnus Carlsen (Norway) |
| 4 | 2017 |  Levon Aronian (Armenia) |
| 5 | 2018 |  Fabiano Caruana (United States) |
| 6 | 2019 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) |
| 7 | 2024 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) |
Six players participated in the first edition of Grenke Chess. The winner was Viswanathan Anand ahead of Fabiano Caruana; they scored 6.5 and 6 out of 10, respectively. [3]
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Total | Wins | TPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Viswanathan Anand (India) | 2780 | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 1 1 | ½ 1 | 6½ | 2811 | ||
| 2 |  Fabiano Caruana (Italy) | 2757 | ½ ½ | 1 ½ | ½ 0 | 1 1 | ½ ½ | 6 | 2778 | ||
| 3 | Georg Meier (Germany) | 2640 | ½ ½ | 0 ½ | ½ ½ | 0 1 | ½ 1 | 5 | 2 | 2729 | |
| 4 |  Michael Adams (England) | 2725 | ½ ½ | ½ 1 | ½ ½ | 0 ½ | ½ ½ | 5 | 1 | 2712 | |
| 5 | Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany) | 2716 | 0 0 | 0 0 | 1 0 | 1 ½ | ½ 1 | 4 | 2642 | ||
| 6 | Daniel Fridman (Germany) | 2667 | ½ 0 | ½ ½ | ½ 0 | ½ ½ | ½ 0 | 3½ | 2614 |
Arkadij Naiditsch, the highest-rated German chess player won the 2014 edition of Grenke Chess Classic ahead of David Baramidze. [4] This edition was not a supertournament, and was a national competition: all eight participants came from Germany. It was a single Round-robin tournament, and two spots were provided for the players to win entry into the next edition of 2015.
| Player | Title | Club | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total | Wins | Black | H2H | TPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany) | GM | OSG Baden-Baden | 2715 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2752 | ||||
| 2 | David Baramidze (Germany) | GM | SV Hockenheim | 2599 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4 | 2 | 2661 | |||
| 3 | Daniel Fridman (Germany) | GM | Mülheim-Nord 1931 | 2633 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4 | 1 | 2656 | |||
| 4 | Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (Germany) | GM | OSG Baden-Baden | 2672 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 3½ | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2600 | |
| 5 | Matthias Blübaum (Germany) | IM | SV Werder Bremen | 2521 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 3½ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2622 | |
| 6 | Georg Meier (Germany) | GM | OSG Baden-Baden | 2652 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 3½ | 1 | 2603 | |||
| 7 | Dennis Wagner (Germany) | IM | SV Hockenheim | 2499 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 2½ | 2523 | ||||
| 8 | Philipp Schlosser (Germany) | GM | OSG Baden-Baden | 2582 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 2 | 2455 |
The tournament was played between 2–9 February 2015. With an average rating of 2752, it is the strongest edition of Grenke Chess in its history. [5] Among the participants were Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Viswanathan Anand and Levon Aronian. The winner was Magnus Carlsen, who eventually won a five-game tiebreak with Arkadij Naiditsch with a score of 3–2 (two rapid, two blitz and one armageddon game). [6] [7]
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total | TB | Wins | TPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2865 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4½ | 3 | 2835 | ||
| 2 | Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany) | 2706 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4½ | 2 | 2858 | ||
| 3 | Michael Adams (England) | 2738 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2802 | ||
| 4 | Fabiano Caruana (Italy) | 2811 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4 | 1 | 2791 | ||
| 5 | Levon Aronian (Armenia) | 2777 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 3½ | 1 | 2746 | ||
| 6 |  Étienne Bacrot (France) | 2711 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 3½ | 0 | 2755 | ||
| 7 | Viswanathan Anand (India) | 2797 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 2½ | 2641 | |||
| 8 | David Baramidze (Germany) | 2594 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1½ | 2544 |
The 2017 tournament took place from 15 to 22 April in Karlsruhe and Baden-Baden. [10]
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total | Wins | Black | H2H | TPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Levon Aronian (Armenia) | 2774 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 5½ | 4 | 2953 | |||
| 2 | Fabiano Caruana (United States) | 2817 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2767 | |||
| 3 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2838 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2764 | |||
| 4 |  Arkadij Naiditsch (Azerbaijan) | 2702 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 3½ | 2 | 2 | 2733 | ||
| 5 |  Hou Yifan (China) | 2649 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 3½ | 2 | 1 | 2741 | ||
| 6 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) | 2803 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 3½ | 2 | 0 | 2719 | ||
| 7 | Matthias Blübaum (Germany) | 2634 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 2 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 2585 | |
| 8 | Georg Meier (Germany) | 2621 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 2 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 2587 |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Total | Wins | Black | H2H | TPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fabiano Caruana (United States) | 2784 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6½ | 4 | 3 | 2896 | ||
| 2 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2843 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 5½ | 2 | 1 | 2803 | ||
| 3 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) | 2789 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 5 | 2 | 1 | ½ | 2772 | |
| 4 |  Nikita Vitiugov (Russia) | 2735 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | ½ | 2778 | |
| 5 | Levon Aronian (Armenia) | 2794 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2772 | ||
| 6 | Matthias Blübaum (Germany) | 2631 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 1 | 0 | 2747 | ||
| 7 | Arkadij Naiditsch (Azerbaijan) | 2701 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 3½ | 1 | 1 | 2659 | ||
| 8 | Viswanathan Anand (India) | 2776 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 3½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 2651 | |
| 9 | Hou Yifan (China) | 2654 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 3½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 2664 | |
| 10 | Georg Meier (Germany) | 2648 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2620 |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Total | Wins | Black | H2H | TPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2845 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7½ | 2983 | ||||
| 2 | Fabiano Caruana (United States) | 2819 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2838 | ||||
| 3 | Arkadij Naiditsch (Azerbaijan) | 2695 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2770 | |||
| 4 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) | 2773 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2761 | |||
| 5 | Peter Svidler (Russia) | 2735 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4½ | 2 | 1 | ½ | 2722 | |
| 6 | Viswanathan Anand (India) | 2774 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4½ | 2 | 1 | ½ | 2718 | |
| 7 | Levon Aronian (Armenia) | 2763 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 1 | 2719 | |||
| 8 |  Francisco Vallejo Pons (Spain) | 2693 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4 | 2693 | ||||
| 9 | Georg Meier (Germany) | 2628 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2514 | ||
| 10 | Vincent Keymer (Germany) | 2516 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2527 |
GM Daniel Fridman (2629) with a score of 7½/9.The tournament returned in 2024 after a five-year hiatus. For the first time, the tournament was played in a rapid time control (45+10) instead of the former classical time control. [2] The format was also changed into a double Round-robin tournament (2 games with reversed colors against each player), followed by playoffs to decide places 1, 3 and 5. Magnus Carlsen won the tournament. [15]
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2823 | 0 1 | ½ ½ | 1 1 | ½ ½ | 1 1 | 7 | |
| 2 |  Richárd Rapport (Romania) | 2708 | 1 0 | 0 ½ | ½ 1 | ½ 1 | 1 ½ | 6 | |
| 3 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) | 2755 | ½ ½ | 1 ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 0 ½ | 5 | |
| 4 | Vincent Keymer (Germany) | 2627 | 0 0 | ½ 0 | ½ ½ | ½ 1 | ½ ½ | 4 | |
| 5 | Ding Liren (China) | 2818 | ½ ½ | ½ 0 | ½ ½ | ½ 0 | ½ ½ | 4 | |
| 6 | Daniel Fridman (Germany) | 2575 | 0 0 | 0 ½ | 1 ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 4 |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Vincent Keymer (Germany) | 2627 | ½ 1 | 1 - | 2.5 | |
| 5 | Ding Liren (China) | 2818 | ½ 0 | 0 1 | 1.5 | |
| 6 | Daniel Fridman (Germany) | 2575 | 0 - | 1 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Ding Liren (China) | 2818 | 1 | ½ | 1.5 |
| 6 | Daniel Fridman (Germany) | 2575 | 0 | ½ | 0.5 |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | B1 | B2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) | 2755 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 2.5 |
| 4 | Vincent Keymer (Germany) | 2627 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1.5 |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 2823 | 1 | ½ | 1.5 |
| 2 | Richárd Rapport (Romania) | 2708 | 0 | ½ | 0.5 |
GM Hans Niemann with a score of 8/9.
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