With 16 teams and many top players, the Bundesliga is an expensive event. But the irregular schedule and the many venues make it difficult to follow, and the media pay little attention - unless, of course, you manage to persuade Magnus Carlsen to play. This season, Carlsen played for FC St. Pauli, and although he only made two appearances, the fact that he did generated a lot of publicity.
Publicity is also guaranteed when the Bundesliga teams play together in the central rounds. Then the Bundesliga shines and, with top professionals and amateurs coming together, takes on the aura of a chess Olympiad. It's even better when the organisers of the Bundesliga and the Women's Bundesliga manage to hold their final rounds at the same time and in the same place. The participation of the best female chess players is an enrichment in every respect.
This season it will happen again. With the SV Deggendorf as host, the Bundesliga and the Women's Bundesliga will play their three final rounds together this weekend. Magnus Carlsen won't be there, but many other stars will be.
With a three-point lead going into the final three rounds, Düsseldorfer SK - with Arjun Erigaisi, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Gukesh, Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa, Wei Yi, Anish Giri, Yu Yangyi, Vidit Gujrathi and Javokhir Sindarov - are almost certain to win the 2024/25 championship, although they face a stern test in Solingen on Friday and defending champions and current runners-up Viernheim on Sunday. But with all due respect to Heimbach-Weis-Neuwied, their opponents on Saturday, this should be a straightforward affair. Düsseldorf would have to stumble against Solingen and Viernheim, which is highly unlikely even if they do not field their strongest team.
The relegation question is more exciting. Kiel has been the first team to be relegated since withdrawing at the start of the season. The four teams currently occupying the last four places will be fighting it out to avoid relegation. From the bottom of the table, these are SV Mülheim Nord, the chess department of Bayern Munich, SF Bad Mergentheim and hosts Deggendorf.
Standings after round 12
| Team | Matches | TP | BP | BW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Düsseldorfer SK | 11 | 22 | 63½ | 289½ |
| 2. | SC Viernheim | 11 | 19 | 56½ | 262½ |
| 3. | OSG Baden-Baden | 11 | 18 | 53½ | 229 |
| 4. | Schachfreunde Deizisau | 11 | 15 | 48½ | 217½ |
| 5. | Hamburger SK | 12 | 11 | 50 | 229½ |
| 6. | SG Solingen | 11 | 11 | 46 | 205½ |
| 7. | USV TU Dresden | 12 | 11 | 42 | 204 |
| 8. | SV Werder Bremen | 11 | 10 | 43½ | 200½ |
| 9. | FC St. Pauli | 11 | 10 | 40½ | 183½ |
| 10. | SC Heimbach-Weis-Neuwied | 11 | 8 | 40½ | 163 |
| 11. | SK Kirchweyhe | 11 | 8 | 39 | 166 |
| 12. | SV Deggendorf | 11 | 7 | 38½ | 173½ |
| 13. | SF Bad Mergentheim | 12 | 6 | 38 | 161 |
| 14. | FC Bayern München | 11 | 6 | 36½ | 178 |
| 15. | SV Mülheim Nord | 11 | 6 | 35½ | 161 |
| 16. | SK Doppelbauer Turm Kiel |
In the women's Bundesliga, leaders Bad Königshofen are not quite as far ahead with a two-point lead. But they have already beaten their closest rivals. With Rodewisch and Hamburg in fourth and fifth, there are still two teams that could cause problems. You never know, especially with Hamburg.
Löberitz, Bayern Munich and Hemer are struggling at the bottom of the table. Seeblick Dipoldiswalde could also be in trouble.
Standings after round 8
| Team | Matches | TP | BP | BW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | SC 1957 Bad Königshofen | 8 | 16 | 37½ | 124½ |
| 2. | OSG Baden-Baden | 8 | 14 | 33 | 113 |
| 3. | SK Schwäbisch Hall | 8 | 11 | 32½ | 111½ |
| 4. | Hamburger SK | 8 | 11 | 28 | 102 |
| 5. | Rodewischer Schachmiezen | 8 | 11 | 27½ | 92½ |
| 6. | SG Solingen | 8 | 7 | 23 | 88½ |
| 7. | TuRa Harksheide | 8 | 7 | 23 | 83½ |
| 8. | Schachfreunde Deizisau | 8 | 7 | 22½ | 80 |
| 9. | SZ Seeblick Dippoldiswalde | 8 | 4 | 14 | 42½ |
| 10. | SG 1871 Löberitz | 8 | 3 | 16½ | 61½ |
| 11. | FC Bayern München | 8 | 3 | 16 | 59½ |
| 12. | SV Hemer 1932 | 8 | 2 | 14½ | 49 |
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