What a show Magnus Carlsen is putting on at the Grenke Chess Freestyle Open! After five intense rounds, the world number one has surged ahead as the only player with a flawless 5/5 score. Saturday was all about clean, clinical execution from Carlsen — he dispatched GM Etienne Bacrot and the seasoned 53-year-old GM Victor Mikhalevski with ease. Mikhalevski, by the way, had been having a dream run until he ran into the Carlsen wall.
Right behind the leader, it's a hot chase — seven strong grandmasters are trailing just half a point behind. Keep an eye on names like Awonder Liang, Paulius Pultinevicius, Baadur Jobava, Matthias Bluebaum, Alexey Sarana, Parham Maghsoodloo, and Leon Luke Mendonca. All of them are hungry and within striking distance.
The tournament is heating up fast, and with Carlsen looking sharper than ever, it's a thrilling ride ahead. Stay tuned — Chess65 will be following every tactic and twist!
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