30/09/2025
The Grand Finale is coming!
After four epic stops, it all goes down in South Africa — December 8–11, 2025: four days of top-level, unpredictable Freestyle chess where the 2025 Freestyle Chess Champion will be crowned. 🇿🇦
Who’s in the field?
The Top 8 from the Freestyle standings have been invited to contest the Grand Finale. Notably, Hikaru Nakamura — who had qualified — withdrew for family reasons, and his spot was taken by Javokhir Sindarov.
Why this is can’t-miss chess:
The Freestyle format rewards creativity and improvisation over rote opening prep — expect wild positions, brave sacrifices, and swingy rounds that can change the leaderboard overnight.
Recent legs of the Grand Slam have produced surprising winners and big upsets (this season saw top players trading wins in dramatic fashion), so any of the invited GMs could take the crown.
Event details (for your calendar):
🗓 Dates: Dec 8–11, 2025.
📍 Location: South Africa (Durban / Grand Finale venue).
Topline talking points to use on your page / in comments:
Who do you think will rise to the occasion — an established star or a rising underdog?
Which of the invited players has the best chance in a freestyle format?
Will Sindarov seize this late call-up and go all the way?
