Las Vegas
Levon Aronian claimed his first Freestyle Chess Grand Slam title by defeating Hans Niemann 1.5-0.5 in the final held at Wynn Las Vegas. The 42-year-old Armenian grandmaster took home a top prize of USD 200,000 after a dominant second game, following a draw in the first.
“This is one of the biggest wins in my life, especially because of the prize money. I’m truly grateful,” Aronian said after the match.
Niemann, who came close to the biggest victory of his career, had to settle for second place and USD 140,000.
World number one Magnus Carlsen secured third place by beating Hikaru Nakamura 1.5-0.5. After a balanced first game, Carlsen converted his chances in the second to win USD 160,000. With this result, he stays on top of the overall Grand Slam Tour standings, even though he missed the final.
India’s Arjun Erigaisi impressed with a 2-0 win over Fabiano Caruana to finish fifth, while fellow Indian GM R. Praggnanandhaa took seventh place after beating Wesley So 1.5-0.5. Pragg’s second game win came after So’s early mistake led to a trapped rook, which the Indian converted smoothly.
Despite the win, Praggnanandhaa wasn’t completely happy. “Seventh doesn’t sound good, but I played better than the result shows. I should’ve made some smart draws,” he reflected.
The Freestyle Chess format, known for its unpredictable play and fast pace, continues to grow in popularity. Aronian’s performance, including wins over Carlsen and Nakamura earlier in the week, marked a memorable tournament run.