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Aronian Tops Carlsen in Grand Slam Final Showdown

12/12/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Levon Aronian defeated Magnus Carlsen 1.5–0.5 in the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour final in Cape Town.
Magnus Carlsen clinched overall victory in the five-event Freestyle Grand Slam Tour despite illness and needing only a fourth-place finish.
Levon Aronian remained undefeated over 17 games and key results included Vincent Keymer finishing third, Alireza Firouzja winning the London Classic's £5,000 second prize, and Livio Cancedda-Dupuis emerging as the top English junior.

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Story summary

Levon Aronian defeated Magnus Carlsen 1.5–0.5 in the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour final in Cape Town.
Magnus Carlsen clinched overall victory in the five-event Freestyle Grand Slam Tour despite illness and needing only a fourth-place finish.
Levon Aronian remained undefeated over 17 games and key results included Vincent Keymer finishing third, Alireza Firouzja winning the London Classic's £5,000 second prize, and Livio Cancedda-Dupuis emerging as the top English junior.