After the opening two rounds of the 2025/26 Chess Bundesliga, three clubs share the lead on maximum points. Promoted Schachfreunde Wolfhagen have made a strong start with two convincing victories, while perennial contenders SC Viernheim and OSG Baden-Baden also won both their matches. Defending champions Düsseldorfer SK, by contrast, dropped ground after being held to a draw in round two.
Wolfhagen's debut weekend saw them beat Dresden 5½-2½ and follow up with another 5½-2½ win over fellow newcomers SF Berlin. The squad, anchored by experienced Ukrainian GMs, underlined that they are aiming higher than simply avoiding relegation. Former FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov and his teammates scored heavily across the boards.
Viernheim, champions two seasons ago, also took maximum points. They opened with a 5½-2½ victory over Berlin and then dismantled Dresden 6-2. The team benefited from wins by Alexey Sarana, Amin Bassem and Dennis Wagner in both rounds.
Baden-Baden joined the leaders by defeating St. Pauli 5-3 in the first round and then sweeping Hamburg 6-2. Vincent Keymer drew against Frederik Svane in the weekend's most eye-catching German duel, while Javokhir Sindarov and Richard Rapport each delivered points to maintain the club's momentum. The 15-time champions remain well positioned as they target another championship run.
Düsseldorf, who surprised many by winning the title last season, began with a narrow 4½-3½ victory over Deggendorf but stumbled in round two against Bayern München. Despite wins by Casper Schoppen and Philipp Leon Klaska, they conceded two losses and had to settle for a 4–4 draw. For the champions it was only their second dropped point since entering the Bundesliga, and it leaves them half a step behind the frontrunners.
Ruslan Ponomariov played on board two for Wolfhagen | Photo: Angelika Valkova
On the right, Bayern München against Düsseldorfer; on the left, Solingen against Deggendorf | Photo: Johannes Grabmeier
Analysis by GM Karsten Müller
Analysis by GM Karsten Müller
