7/29/2021 – All four games of the Grandmaster Tournament in Biel ended with a draw, but Noel Studer and Alan Pichot played for almost eight hours and made 138 moves before they agreed to share the point. The young German Grandmaster Vincent Keymer had no easy task against Kirill Alekseenko, but solved it. In the Open, Salem Saleh and Surya Ganguly share the lead with 3.0/3 each. | Photos: Biel Chess Festival
new: Fritz 20
Your personal chess trainer. Your toughest opponent. Your strongest ally. FRITZ 20 is more than just a chess engine – it is a training revolution for ambitious players and professionals. Whether you are taking your first steps into the world of serious chess training, or already playing at tournament level, FRITZ 20 will help you train more efficiently, intelligently and individually than ever before.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before. FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
Biel Chess Festival 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Navara, Wojtaszek et al. Opening videos by Blohberger, Engel and Sokolov. Training columns ‘The fortress’, ‘Opening traps , ‘Fundamental Endgame Knowledge’ and much more
€21.90
Long games
In the first round of the classical part of the Grandmaster Tournament at the 54th Biel Chess Festival, Kirill Alekseenko and Nihal Sarin played the longest game of the round. Nihal Sarin tried desperately to defend an endgame with a pawn but after 91 moves he conceded defeat and resigned.
But in round 2 Noel Studer and Alan Pichot played an even longer game – they played for seven hours and 42 minutes before agreeing to a draw.
Studer, the local hero, tried to win a queen ending with two pawns against one but Pichot defended attentively and after 138 moves the game ended in a draw.
Vincent Keymer, born 2004 and Germany's youngest Grandmaster of all time, was up against World Championship Candidate Kirill Alekseenko, who seems to be very motivated in Biel. Keymer had White but ended up with a somewhat passive position after the opening, which he, however, was able to hold.
Vincent Keymer
Black has more space and an outpost on e4. However, White's position is rather solid.
26.Kh2 c4 27.Rd4 Nc5 Another try was 27...h4 28.gxh4 Qf6 White now best reacts with 29.f3. After (29.g3 Nxg3 30.fxg3 Qxd4) 29...Nc5 30.Rcd1 Nd3 31.Qd2 (31.R1xd3!? cxd3 32.Qxd3) 31...Rb6 32.b3 Rbe6 33.Bf2 Nxf2 34.Qxf2 chances are about equal.
28.Rcd1 Nd3 29.b3 Re4 30.Bc3 After 30.bxc4 Rxd4 31.exd4 dxc4 32.Bc3 Rf6 Black is better.
36... h4 36...Qf5!? is a winning attempt: 37.Kg1?! h4 38.Bd4 (Worse is 38.gxh4 c3 39.e4 Qb5 40.e5 (40.Bd4? Nc1 41.Qxb5 axb5 and Black wins.) 40...Qb1+ 41.Kh2 Nf4 42.Qxa6 Qe4 and White has to defend.) 38...hxg3 39.fxg3
Nihal Sarin and Boris Gelfand as did Gata Kamsky and Maxime Lagarde. But all received 1.5 points for this draw because in the Biel Grandmaster Triathlon 4 points are awarded for a win and 1.5 points for a draw.
Games
Live commentary of round 2
MTO
The Master Open also has an interesting field. To support women's chess, the festival has increased the prizes for female participants. This seems to be motivating and Vaishali Rameshbabu (Elo 2393), the elder sister of Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, drew against the Russian GM Maksim Chigaev (Elo 2630). Javiera Belen Gomez Barrera from Chile (Elo 2083) and Nikola Mayrhuber from Austria (Elo 2062) also caused a slight upset by drawing against their Grandmaster opponents GM Kantor Gergely (Elo 2527) and GM Andrei Shchekachev (Elo 2515).
After three rounds Salem Saleh and Surya Ganguly share the lead with 3.0/3 each.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this volume, we dive into core aspects of chess technique. Smyslov taught the principle of tactical hierarchy, “checks, double attacks, and unprotected pieces”, and Mikhalchishin demonstrates how this method of calculation is vital.
Videos: Nico Zwirs examines two Petroffs from the 2026 Candidates. Robert Ris has a tip against the Caro-Kann Advance Variation with 3…c5. Fiona Sieber reveals a surprise weapon against the Najdorf. ‘Lucky Bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, L'Ami et al.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this powerful new course, endgame expert Karsten Müller teams up with rising star Leon Mendonca to deliver what truly matters: 10 essential rules that every player must know.
In this video course experts examine the games of Bent Larsen. Let them show you which openings Larsen chose, where his strength in middlegames were, how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame & you’ll get a glimpse of his tactical abilities!
From the 2026 Candidates Tournament, featuring a video review by Dorian Rogozenco, to Jan Werle’s opening video on the French Tarrasch Defence, and Oliver Reeh’s tactical column ‘Top Grandmasters at Work’. Analyses by Giri, So, Wei Yi and many others.
€21.90
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.
Pop-up for detailed settings
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.
