GM Vincent Keymer of Germany captured the title at the Super Chess Classic Romania, securing first place after defeating Jorden van Foreest in the only decisive game of the ninth and final round to avoid a playoff. The victory marks Keymer’s first tournament win in a classical event on the 2026 Grand Chess Tour (GCT) during his debut appearance as a full tour player.
The 2026 Super Chess Classic Romania was a 10-player round robin, featuring nine full Tour players and one wildcard. Headlining the 2026 lineup were Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So, Vincent Keymer, Anish Giri, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Javokhir Sindarov, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Jorden Van Foreest, joined by Romanian wildcard Bogdan-Daniel Deac.
For this victory, Keymer earned a total of $131,250, which included his share of the $125,000 Classical Wins Bonus, distributed among players based on total wins across the tournament, with the prize pool divided by the number of games won to determine a per-win value and each player’s final bonus allocation.
“Vincent’s performance in Bucharest was a tremendous example of the next generation of elite players rising to the occasion on one of chess’s biggest stages,” said Michael Khodarkovsky, Executive Director of the GCT. “It’s exciting to see new talent break through and claim a major title against such a world-class field, and we believe fans are witnessing the future of elite chess unfold in real time.”
Fabiano Caruana finished in second place after remaining in contention for the title until the final round, while World Championship Challenger GM Javokhir Sindarov secured third place with another impressive performance against a world-class field. The event featured intense competition throughout the nine rounds, including the withdrawal of Alireza Firouzja, who stepped out of the tournament due to a persistent ankle injury.
“Congratulations to Vincent Keymer for an extraordinary performance and a well-deserved title,” said Augusta Dragic, President of the Super Foundation. “We also extend our appreciation to all participants for the exceptional quality of play, sportsmanship, and dedication they demonstrated throughout the Super Chess Classic Romania, making it a true celebration of elite chess at its highest level.”
2026 Super Chess Classic Romania Final Standings
“I still haven’t fully taken in what happened – it’s been an amazing event for me,” said Keymer. “I’m very happy with my performance, especially despite a setback in the middle. This is the biggest tournament victory of my career so far. I prepared less and focused more on having enough mental energy to be successful. I want to thank the organizers of the Grand Chess Tour, my coach Peter, my father, and all the fans who supported and cheered for me.”
The GCT now heads to Zagreb for Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia, taking place from June 29 to July 6, 2026. As the second rapid and blitz event of the tour, the tournament will feature a total prize fund of $200,000 and include six full-tour participants alongside four wildcard players: Gukesh Dommaraju of India, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, Bogdan-Daniel Deac of Romania, and Ivan Saric of Croatia.
Text: Grand Chess Tour
Photos: Grand Chess Tour / Lennart Ootes