Düsseldorf Celebrates Historic Triumph in the Chess Bundesliga

 Düsseldorf dominated the Chess Bundesliga so thoroughly that they secured the title with a round to spare.

A 4–4 draw against SC Viernheim in the final round in Deggendorf was purely academic — Düsseldorf were already crowned champions!

A Triumphant Return

From the opening rounds, the 2024/25 season belonged to one team. Strengthened by global stars like Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wesley So, Vidit Gujrathi, and Javokhir Sindarov, Düsseldorfer SK stormed through the competition without a single slip.

A decisive moment came in Round 7, when they convincingly beat OSG Baden-Baden 5.5–2.5, despite missing several key players who were competing at the Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk aan Zee. From that point onward, Düsseldorf set the pace for the entire season.

During the final weekend in Deggendorf, Düsseldorf crushed SG Solingen 6.5–1.5 and later overcame SC Heimbach-Weis-Neuwied 5–3. The only blemish was a quick defeat for the team’s sponsor, Wadim Rosenstein, who lost to Lukas Winterberg after just twenty moves on board eight.

Heading into the final round, Düsseldorf had an immaculate record: fourteen wins in fourteen matches. SC Viernheim managed to take a point off the new champions with a draw, but by then, it was too late. Viernheim had lost critical ground earlier in the season after defeats against Hamburger SK and Werder Bremen.

What Went Wrong for Baden-Baden?

Baden-Baden entered the season with a lineup packed with stars, including Fabiano Caruana and Alireza Firouzja. But that glittering roster became a double-edged sword: Caruana didn’t play a single game on board one, Firouzja appeared in only four matches, and legendary Viswanathan Anand played just twice. Without consistent appearances from their top players, even a powerhouse like Baden-Baden struggled to stay in the title race. In the end, they had to settle for third place.

A Bittersweet Victory

Düsseldorf’s long-awaited victory also marks the end of an era. Club sponsor Wadim Rosenstein, whose support made this dream possible, announced he will significantly scale back his involvement. His personal goal — to play in the Bundesliga and win the title — has been achieved.

Drama at the Bottom

While the race for the title was clear, the fight to avoid relegation was fierce. After SK Doppelbauer Turm Kiel withdrew from the league, one relegation spot was already confirmed. SV Mülheim Nord, SF Bad Mergentheim, and FC Bayern München battled to avoid the drop.

Bayern handled the pressure superbly, winning their final three matches to climb safely into mid-table. Meanwhile, Mülheim Nord and Bad Mergentheim were unable to escape and were relegated.

Final Standings – Chess Bundesliga 2024/25