Vincent Keymer Wins Super Chess Classic Romania 2026
German Grandmaster Vincent Keymer won the 2026 Super Chess Classic Romania after an outstanding performance in Bucharest.
Keymer secured the title by defeating Jorden van Foreest in the only decisive game of the final round. This important victory helped him avoid a playoff and finish alone in first place.
This was also Keymer’s first classical tournament victory on the Grand Chess Tour as a full-time tour player. It became one of the biggest achievements of his chess career so far.
Strong Field at Super Chess Classic Romania
The tournament featured 10 elite players in a round-robin format.
Top stars included:
- Fabiano Caruana
- Alireza Firouzja
- Wesley So
- Anish Giri
- Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu
- Javokhir Sindarov
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
- Bogdan-Daniel Deac
The competition remained intense throughout all nine rounds.
Keymer Earns Massive Prize Money
For winning the tournament, Keymer received a total prize of $131,250.
This amount included his share of the $125,000 Classical Wins Bonus. The bonus was distributed based on the number of games won during the event.
Caruana and Sindarov Finish on Podium
Fabiano Caruana finished in second place after fighting for the title until the final round. Young Uzbek star Javokhir Sindarov continued his impressive rise by taking third place against a world-class field.
Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja had to withdraw from the tournament because of a persistent ankle injury.
Final Standings – Super Chess Classic Romania 2026
| Rank | Title | Player | Rating | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM | Vincent Keymer | 2759 | 6 |
| 2 | GM | Fabiano Caruana | 2788 | 5½ |
| 3 | GM | Javokhir Sindarov | 2776 | 5 |
| 4 | GM | Wesley So | 2754 | 5 |
| 5 | GM | Jorden van Foreest | 2735 | 4½ |
| 6 | GM | Bogdan-Daniel Deac | 2650 | 4½ |
| 7 | GM | Anish Giri | 2767 | 4½ |
| 8 | GM | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 2733 | 4½ |
| 9 | GM | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 2717 | 4½ |
| 10 | GM | Alireza Firouzja | 2759 | 1 |
Keymer Reacts After Historic Victory
After winning the event, Vincent Keymer shared his happiness about the biggest title of his career.
He said he focused more on maintaining mental energy rather than over-preparing for games. He also thanked his coach Peter, his father, the organizers, and chess fans for their support.
Grand Chess Tour Moves to Croatia
The Grand Chess Tour will now continue with the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia event in Zagreb from June 29 to July 6, 2026.
The tournament will feature a prize fund of $200,000 and include exciting wildcard players such as:
- Gukesh Dommaraju
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Bogdan-Daniel Deac
- Ivan Saric
Chess fans can expect another thrilling event as the Grand Chess Tour continues.
Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
