Name: Francisco Vallejo Pons
Age: 36
Country: Spain
World ranking 43
Name: Levon Aronian
Age: 36
Counry: Armenia
World ranking: No. 12
Name: Peter Svidler
Age: 42
Country: Russia
World ranking: No. 19
Name: Viswanathan Anand
Age: 49
Country: India
World ranking: No. 7
Name: Arkadij Naiditsch
Age: 33
Country: Azerbaijan
World ranking: No. 42
Name: Magnus Carlsen
Age: 28
Country: Norway
World ranking: No. 1
Name: Fabiano Caruana
Age: 26
Country: USA
World ranking: No. 2
Name: Vincent Keymer
Age: 14
Country: Germany
World ranking: No. 6 (U16)
Name: Georg Meier
Age: 31
Country: Germany
World ranking: No. 152
Name: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Age: 28
Country: France
World ranking: No. 7
Exciting matchups were lined up for the second round of the GRENKE Chess Classic. The youngest player in the field, Vincent Keymer pitted against former five-time world champion Vishy Anand; and then there was the battle between the heavyweights Fabiano Caruana and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Magnus Carlsen was playing Francisco Vallejo Pons with black. The conclusion of the round brought three decisive results: Anand won comfortably against Keymer; Svidler defeated Arkadij Naiditsch; while Carlsen retained his read winning his second straight black game in a miraculous manner.
Carlsen's technique in his round-two game was nothing short of witchcraft! | Photo: Eric van Reem
Read more: Magnus the magnificent pulls off a miracle to retain lead
The second round saw three winners and a brilliant Magnus Carlsen against Francisco Vallejo Pons. Enjoy our video with impressions of the second day of the GRENKE Chess Classic.
Read more: Video Impressions | Round 2 | GRENKE Chess Classic 2019
The first round was dominated by the clash of Vincent Keymer against Magnus Carlsen. Enjoy our video with impressions of the start of the GRENKE Chess Classic.
Read more: Video Impressions | Round 1 | GRENKE Chess Classic 2019
For the second time in a row, the GRENKE Chess Classic caught the fancy of the world by featuring a highly anticipated matchup in its very opening round. While last year the Classic had given a prelude to the World Championship match by clashing Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana in the inaugural round last year, this edition featured a mouthwatering duel between the reigning world champion and the 14-year-old prodigy, Vincent Keymer.
The symbolic first move to officially open the tournament was made by FIDE President, Arkady Dvorkovich | Photo: Maria Emelianova
Read more: Carlsen takes early lead, breaking through Keymer's stiff resistance
Before the Open events in categories A, B and C kicked off on Thursday evening, lots or colours were drawn for the GRENKE Chess Classic at the Congresshalle in Karlsruhe. Prodigy, Vincent Keymer (pictured) was the last to walk the stage and pull out the number 5. Earlier Magnus Carlsen, who was the first to make a pick, had revealed the number 6. This means the inaugural round is to witness a clash between the top and the bottommost seeds of the event on Easter Saturday with Carlsen taking the white side of the board. Other pairings are as follows:
