Magnus Carlsen Claims 21st World Title After Winning First Official FIDE Freestyle Chess

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 19:24 IST

Magnus Carlsen became the first FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion in Weissenhaus, defeating Fabiano Caruana.

Norway’s Magnus Carlsen added another title to his collection on Sunday by becoming the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion after a comeback win over Fabiano Caruana in Germany.

The chess master secured the title with a cautious draw in the fourth and final game, clinching a 2.5–1.5 match victory against his 33-year-old American opponent in Weissenhaus.

Sunday’s turning point came in the thrilling third game, where Carlsen, 35, pulled off a stunning win from a seemingly lost position, shifting the entire contest in his favour.

The world number one only needed a draw in the decisive fourth game, which he achieved in an equal endgame, with Caruana missing late opportunities to mount a comeback.

“I was kind of smelling blood, since I felt that I’d been on the ropes for this game, and the second game wasn’t easy either, and I just thought I’m probably not going to get a better chance than this one. Fortunately he collapsed in a matter of moves there. I’m very happy with that part, that I managed to psychologically reset and play for a win when I could," Magnus explained.

How Many World Titles Magnus Carlsen Has Won?

Carlsen has now won 21 world titles in various formats.

The World Championship marked a breakthrough collaboration between FIDE and private organiser Freestyle Chess, staging the first officially recognised title in this format.

Carlsen had previously failed to capture the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship, making this victory particularly satisfying for the chess great.

In the bronze medal match, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Germany’s Vincent Keymer, securing his spot by drawing from a winning position in the final game.

Both finalists and Abdusattorov have qualified for next year’s championship.

In the tournament’s lower placings, Hans Niemann of the United States took fifth with a 2-0 victory over India’s Arjun Erigaisi, while Armenia’s Levon Aronian won his Armageddon game against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov for seventh place.

In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva prevailed over Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk after their final encounter ended in a draw.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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