Is the King Rusty? Carlsen Loses to Van Foreest at TePe Sigeman 2026
It is rare to see Magnus Carlsen lose a classical game. But at TePe Sigeman & Co 2026, it finally happened. Jorden van Foreest defeated Carlsen in Round 4 with the white pieces. The game was full of drama, mistakes, and intense moments.
Carlsen’s last classical loss came almost a year ago. On June 1, 2025, he lost to D Gukesh at Norway Chess. That game became famous as the “table slam game.” This latest defeat ends a long unbeaten run. It raises one big question: is the king losing his edge?
Jorden van Foreest Stuns Carlsen
After the game, Jorden said, “I never thought it would happen.” This win was special. Jorden had worked as Carlsen’s second during the 2021 World Championship. Now, he defeated his former boss.
The game reached a tricky rook vs knight endgame. It looked like a draw. Even Carlsen had good chances to hold. But under time pressure, things went wrong.
Mistakes started to appear. The evaluation kept changing. Both players were under stress. Finally, Jorden trapped Carlsen’s knight. The position collapsed. Carlsen resigned.
A perfect example of the famous quote by Savielly Tartakower:
“The winner is the one who makes the next-to-last mistake.”
Key Moment of the Game
The turning point came late in the game. Carlsen still had one last chance to draw. After 86.Rc2, he could have played Nb6.
Instead, he played Na3. That single move cost him the game. Jorden responded with Rc3 and trapped the knight. Two moves later, Carlsen resigned. A painful end for the world number one.
Erdogmus Takes the Lead
Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus defeated Nils Grandelius and took the sole lead. This was their second classical meeting. Last year, they drew.
But things have changed quickly. Erdogmus has gained nearly 100 rating points in one year. In this game, Grandelius made a critical mistake.
Instead of capturing with the rook, he chose the wrong pawn capture. This allowed a powerful tactic starting with Nd5.
Erdogmus used his two knights perfectly. He created threats around the king and finished the game with a beautiful checkmate. He now leads the tournament with 3/4 points.
Zhu Jiner Scores First Win
Zhu Jiner defeated Andy Woodward in their first-ever meeting. This game was decided very early. Woodward made a mistake in the opening. His knight got trapped as early as move 10.
He had to give up material. From there, Zhu Jiner played confidently. She converted her advantage without trouble and secured her first win of the event.
Arjun vs Abdusattorov Ends in a Draw
Arjun Erigaisi faced Nodirbek Abdusattorov in an exciting clash. Their recent game at Tata Steel Masters 2026 was won by Abdusattorov. This time, the game was balanced.
Abdusattorov got a better position from the opening. But Arjun defended very well. He showed excellent technique and equalised. The game ended in a draw.
Round 4 Results
- Erdogmus defeated Grandelius (1-0)
- Abdusattorov drew with Arjun (½-½)
- Van Foreest defeated Carlsen (1-0)
- Zhu Jiner defeated Woodward (1-0)
Standings After Round 4
- Erdogmus – 3 points
- Abdusattorov – 2.5 points
- Arjun – 2.5 points
- Van Foreest – 2.5 points
- Carlsen – 2 points
- Woodward – 2 points
- Zhu Jiner – 1.5 points
- Grandelius – 0 points
What’s Next?
Round 5 promises more action. The biggest matchup: Carlsen vs Zhu Jiner. Will Carlsen bounce back? Or will the surprises continue?
Tournament Details
- Event: TePe Sigeman & Co 2026
- Location: Malmö
- Dates: May 1 – May 7
- Time Control: 90 minutes + 30 minutes after move 40, with 30-second increment
This round reminded everyone of one thing: Even the greatest can fall. And in chess, one mistake is all it takes.
Photos: Peter Doggers, ChessBase
Source: CHESSBASE.in
