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Key Points

Levon Aronian dominated the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, defeating Hans Niemann in the final. Indian talents Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa finished sixth and seventh respectively, with Pragg stunning Carlsen earlier in the tournament. Carlsen recovered to claim third place, while Nakamura and Caruana rounded out the top five. The event showcased high-stakes chess with Aronian taking home the $200,000 winner's prize.

Key Points: Aronian Wins Freestyle Chess Grand Slam as Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa Finish 6th and 7th

  • Aronian defeats Hans Niemann 1.5-0.5 to claim $200,000 top prize
  • Praggnanandhaa stuns Carlsen in opening game before semifinal loss
  • Carlsen rebounds to secure third place ahead of Nakamura
  • Erigaisi suffers three straight losses but earns $40,000
2 min read

Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa finish at 6th, 7th; Aronian wins Freestyle Chess Grand Slam

Levon Aronian triumphs in Las Vegas, while Indian GMs Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa secure top-10 finishes in a star-studded chess event.

"Aronian held firm in an opposite-coloured bishop ending in the first, before putting on a masterclass to take the match. – chess.com"

Las Vegas, July 21

Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa finished at sixth and seventh position respectively in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Las Vegas. Grandmaster Levon Aronian of the United States won the championship on Sunday after overcoming GM Hans Niemann 1.5-0.5 in the final, according to chess.com.

Aronian held firm in an opposite-coloured bishop ending in the first, before putting on a masterclass to take the match.

In his match today, Praggnanandhaa prevailed over Wesley with 1.5-0.5 score, marking the end of an impressive showing.

Caruana-Arjun was a one-sided affair, and the former brought indomitable form that saw Arjun slump to a third straight 0-2 defeat, 24 hours after falling to Carlsen by the same margin.

World number one Magnus Carlsen rallied after a disappointing first game to outplay Hikaru Nakamura of the United States to finish in third place in the play-off.

Aronian took USD 200000 for winning the tournament, while Arjun secured USD 40000 for his effort. Praggnanandhaa also pocketed a total of USD 30000 after his final round win.

GM Hikaru Nakamura finished in fourth, and Fabiano Caruana, after beating Arjun, finished his campaign on fifth position.

Carlsen won USD 100,000 third prize, while Nakamura bagged USD 60,000 and Caruana took home USD 50,000.

Earlier in the tournament, Praggnanandhaa defeated Carlsen in the first game of their freestyle chess match.

The 19-year-old Indian chess prodigy beat Carlsen 1-0 in the opening game, playing with the white pieces.

However, Carlsen bounced back in the second game to level the match and then went on to win both games in the blitz tiebreak, sealing a 2-0 victory and advancing to the final.

During game one, Praggnanandhaa took down Carlsen with white pieces. But game two was won by the world number one, taking things to a tiebreak. Carslen went on to win the blitz tiebreak 2-0 to win the semifinal match.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Arjun's performance was disappointing this time. He needs to work on his consistency against top players. But still, top 10 finish is respectable. #ChessIndia
R
Rahul R
That prize money difference is staggering! Aronian gets $200k while our boys get 1/5th of that. Chess needs better monetization for players outside top 3.
S
Sarah B
As a chess coach, I'm amazed by Pragg's composure at just 19! That win against Carlsen shows he belongs at the top level. More Indian parents should consider chess as a career option.
K
Karthik V
Why is no one talking about how Pragg defeated Carlsen in classical chess? That's HUGE! Our boy is making waves internationally 🇮🇳
N
Nisha Z
Both players earned more in one tournament than most Indians make in years. Hope they invest wisely and focus on their game rather than distractions.

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