Chennai Grand Masters 2025: Vincent Keymer sheds zen-like composure, embraces chaos on his way to title
Over the last week or so at the Chennai Grand Masters 2025, German Grandmaster Vincent Keymer has been on a single-minded pursuit.
Facing up against a top-class field, Keymer appeared in near-total control as he motored towards a tournament win with an unbeaten run.
In an unstated side quest, the 20-year-old looked like he wanted to cruise through the tournament – unbothered by his opponents, unworried about complex match situations and unhindered by points table permutations. He was well on course for that target, too.
On Thursday, Keymer bagged his primary target – the title win – with a round to spare. But, in the process, he was forced to surrender his ‘cool guy’ objective, thanks to a phase of play where his humane nature outshone his mechanical efficiency on board.
Taking on Dutch GM Jorden van Foreest in the eighth round, Keymer had maintained an equal position throughout the game, well aware that a draw would, in all likelihood, assure him the title, considering his 1.5-point overnight lead.
But in the endgame, with his 43rd move with the black pieces, van Foreest found a way to trap Keymer in a complex position, with just one way out – g6.
For a player of Keymer’s standard, it was not too hard a problem to solve. But a ticking-down clock with less than two minutes on it weighed him down, as the possibility of fumbling his unbeaten run and complicating his tournament win loomed large on the German.
For several moments, it looked like he had failed to spot the safety move. His body language screamed surrender. The usually inscrutable Keymer was seen writhing with tension. His face began to turn red aggressively, while his body tremored out of nervousness.
However, he regrouped in time to unscrew the suspense and open up the portal to a drawn game, and subsequently win the event.
“All the trouble that was caused was purely by me. But it was certainly the most dangerous moment [of the tournament] for me,” admitted a relieved Keymer after the game.
Analysing the tempestuous endgame at the media interaction, a far more composed Keymer mapped out a few other ways he could have worked out a draw.
“I could have [earlier] just played f5, b3 and take on b3 and g6 and force a draw. And that’s, of course, what I should have done. I was still under the impression that he was the one who had to be precise, which was obviously very wrong. I considered many options, and nothing seemed to work. And that exactly g6 helped me survive is crazy,” he added.
Despite sealing the title, Keymer has no intentions to go easy in the final round on Friday.
“I think it’s the strongest classical tournament I have ever won. So, I’m just going to try not to ruin my performance tomorrow. And then I can really call it a very nice tournament. Also, it’s quite important because I broke into the top 10, and I would like to stay there,” said Keymer.
A win or a draw on Friday will bookend a spotless triumph for Keymer. But the fleeting, emotional theatrics in the penultimate round will remain a blemish on his attempt to be zen. Not that he would care.