The Grenke Freestyle Chess Open began on 17 April and runs until 21 April, hosted at the Karlsruhe Convention Centre in Karlsruhe, Germany. The event is a nine-round Swiss tournament played under Freestyle Chess rules, where the starting position is altered while preserving castling rights.
Each round uses a classical time control: 90 minutes for the entire game, with a 30-second increment from move one. The tournament attracts both elite and aspiring players in a format that balances tradition and innovation.
Players competing in the Grenke Chess Open, which traditionally features standard classical chess, have the option to switch to the Freestyle event between rounds two and five while retaining their score. This flexibility offers participants a unique opportunity to test themselves in both classical and Freestyle formats within a single event framework.
