Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam

Last updated
Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam
LevonAronian23.jpg
Levon Aronian, the winner of the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam
Tournament information
Sport Chess variant (Chess960)
Location Las Vegas, United States
Dates16 July 2025–20 July 2025
Tournament
format(s)
Single-elimination tournament with round-robin seeding round
Host(s)Freestyle Chess Operations
VenuePavillon Chesnaie du Roy
Participants16
Final positions
Champion Flag of the United States.svg Levon Aronian
Runner-up Flag of the United States.svg Hans Niemann
3rd place Flag of Norway.svg Magnus Carlsen
Final (Cape Town) 

The Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam was a Chess960 tournament that took place in Las Vegas, United States from 16 July to 20 July 2025. It was the fourth leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, a series of Chess960 tournaments being held throughout 2025. [1]

Contents

Regulation changes

While the second leg had 12 participants playing in the main event, the number of participants was increased to 16 for the fourth leg. However, while before only the top eight players after the round-robin stage qualified for the main knockout bracket, now all the remaining eight players will still play for positions 3-16 in a modified double-elimination style format. [2]

Another change to the format was the time control of the games. The primary games of the tournament were changed from 90 minutes+30, to being 30 minutes+30. The main goal of this was to have both games be played on the same day, so as to shorten the events' length. The Rapid Round-robin and tiebreaking games, which were already a shorter time control, were unaffected.

Qualification

All qualification matches were played online and were hosted by Chess.com. All non-titled players started qualification in one of two separate open qualifier events, which were held on June 14 and June 15 respectively, with the top three players from each event advancing to the Swiss stage. [3] 146 players participated in the Swiss stage held on June 18. It was open to all titled players. The top four players, Rasmus Svane, Denis Lazavik, Pranesh M, and Martyn Kravtsiv advanced to the 16-player knockout stage. [4]

Twelve players from the Freestyle Chess Players Club were invited directly to the knockout stage, held on June 19 and June 20. Hans Niemann defeated Denis Lazavik in the final, drawing with black pieces in the armageddon game, and qualified for the Grand Slam.

Round of 16 (Jun 19) Quarterfinals (Jun 19) Semifinals (Jun 20) Final (Jun 20)
        
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Martyn Kravtsiv  (UKR)2
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)0
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Martyn Kravtsiv  (UKR)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Yu Yangyi  (CHN)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Yu Yangyi  (CHN)
Flag of India.svg  Vidit Gujrathi  (IND)½
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Yu Yangyi  (CHN)1
Flag of the United States.svg  Hans Moke Niemann  (USA)3
Flag of Germany.svg  Rasmus Svane  (GER)0
Flag of the United States.svg  Hans Moke Niemann  (USA)2
Flag of the United States.svg  Hans Moke Niemann  (USA)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ding Liren  (CHN)½
FIDE flag icon.png  Alexander Grischuk  (FIDE)2
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ding Liren  (CHN)3
Flag of the United States.svg  Hans Moke Niemann  (USA)
FIDE flag icon.png  Denis Lazavik  (FIDE)
Flag of India.svg  Pranesh M  (IND)½
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Vladimir Fedoseev  (SVN)
'Flag of Slovenia.svg  Vladimir Fedoseev  (SVN)
Flag of Poland.svg  Jan-Krzysztof Duda  (POL)½
FIDE flag icon.png  Andrey Esipenko  (FIDE)½
Flag of Poland.svg  Jan-Krzysztof Duda  (POL)
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Vladimir Fedoseev  (SVN)½
FIDE flag icon.png  Denis Lazavik  (FIDE)
FIDE flag icon.png  Denis Lazavik  (FIDE)3Third Place Match (Jun 20)
Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)2
FIDE flag icon.png  Denis Lazavik  (FIDE)Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Yu Yangyi  (CHN)0
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Lê Quang Liêm  (VIE)½ Flag of Slovenia.svg  Vladimir Fedoseev  (SVN)2
Flag of Serbia.svg  Alexey Sarana  (SER)½
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Lê Quang Liêm  (VIE)

5th-8th Place

The four losers from the quarterfinal round above competed in the 5th-to-8th-place bracket.

(Jun 20) Fifth Place Match (Jun 20)
    
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Martyn Kravtsiv  (UKR)3
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ding Liren  (CHN)2
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Martyn Kravtsiv  (UKR)
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Lê Quang Liêm  (VIE)
Flag of Poland.svg  Jan-Krzysztof Duda  (POL)½
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Lê Quang Liêm  (VIE)Seventh Place Match (Jun 20)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ding Liren  (CHN)½
Flag of Poland.svg  Jan-Krzysztof Duda  (POL)

Note: The player listed first played as white in the first game of the match. Scores between two players adding up to 2 indicate a win under rapid time controls; adding up to 4, a win under blitz time controls; and adding up to 5, a win in armageddon with bidding.

Main event

Participants

Leading up to the later-to-be-called third leg of the Grand Slam Tour, the Grenke Freestyle Chess Open, the organizers of the Freestyle Tour and the Grenke Open announced to publish a world rating list for Freestyle based on the tournament results. [5]

In the newest edition of their Rules and Regulation, Freestyle Chess increased the number of players in a Grand Slam to 16 and replaced the qualification by FIDE rating with the Freestyle rating.

Qualification methodPlayerAge Classical Rating World
Ranking
Freestyle
Rating [6]
(June 2025)
The top three finishers in the previous closed Grand Slam Flag of Norway.svg Magnus Carlsen (winner)34283712909
Flag of the United States.svg Hikaru Nakamura (runner-up)37280422818
Flag of the United States.svg Fabiano Caruana (third place)32277742804
World Chess Champion Flag of India.svg Gukesh Dommaraju (withdrew)19277652701
Winner of the Grenke Freestyle Chess Open Flag of Iran.svg Parham Maghsoodloo (withdrew) [7] 242691382712
Winner of the Aeroflot Open 2025 FIDE flag icon.png Ian Nepomniachtchi (withdrew) [7] 342757102771
The three highest rated players in Freestyle Ranking Flag of India.svg R Praggnanandhaa 19276772773
Flag of Germany.svg Vincent Keymer 202730222766
Flag of France.svg Alireza Firouzja (withdrew)22276682764
Wild cards Flag of India.svg Arjun Erigaisi 21278232758
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Nodirbek Abdusattorov 20276762702
Flag of the United States.svg Leinier Domínguez 412738182749
Flag of the United States.svg Levon Aronian 422742162737
Flag of the United States.svg Wesley So 312745142737
Flag of India.svg Vidit Gujrathi 302720252713
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Javokhir Sindarov 192710292702
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Bibisara Assaubayeva 2125095472506
Replacements Flag of the United States.svg Ray Robson (replacement for Maghsoodloo) [7] 302687402687
Flag of the United States.svg Sam Sevian (replacement for Nepomniachtchi) [7] 24268343N/A
Winner of the online play-in Flag of the United States.svg Hans Niemann 222736202722
Sources: [8]

Group Stage

The Round-robin stage was changed for the Las Vegas leg. Instead of one full Round-robin including every player, the 16 players were broken up into two groups, "White" and "Black". Each player played every other in their respective groups, and the top four from each group advanced to the winners' bracket.

White Group

Rapid round-robin, 16 July 2025
#Player12345678PointsTB
1Flag of India.svg  R Praggnanandhaa  (IND)*½½011½1
2Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Nodirbek Abdusattorov  (UZB)½*½0½111
3Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Javokhir Sindarov  (UZB)½½*1½1½½
4Flag of the United States.svg  Levon Aronian  (USA)110*001142
5Flag of Norway.svg  Magnus Carlsen  (NOR)0½½1*10140
6Flag of Germany.svg  Vincent Keymer  (GER)00010*113
7Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)½0½010*13
8Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Bibisara Assaubayeva  (KAZ)00½0000*½

Going into round 4, Magnus Carlsen was tied for first in the bracket. He then suffered two back-to-back losses against Praggnanandhaa and So, seriously endangering his chances of advancing. During the final round, he had to win his game against Assaubayeva, and hope that either Levon Aronian or Praggnanandhaa lost their final games, so that he could enter a tiebreaking match against them. Magnus defeated Assaubayeva and Aronian lost to Keymer, causing the two to enter a tiebreaker for advancement. In the end, Aronian defeated Carlsen 2-0, eliminating him from the upper bracket and guaranteeing his own placement in the quarterfinals.

Despite starting the tournament with a draw against Javokhir Sindarov, Bibisara Assaubayeva struggled to make much headway against the other competition. She ended the Round-robin with a score of 0.5/7, the lowest in either bracket.

Black Group

Rapid round-robin, 16 July 2025
#Player12345678Points
1Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)*11½½1116
2Flag of the United States.svg  Hans Niemann  (USA)0*101½11
3Flag of India.svg  Arjun Erigaisi  (IND)00*½½1114
4Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)½1½*½½½½4
5Flag of the United States.svg  Leinier Domínguez  (USA)½0½½*1½03
6Flag of the United States.svg  Sam Sevian  (USA)0½0½0*½1
7Flag of the United States.svg  Ray Robson  (USA)000½½½*1
8Flag of India.svg  Vidit Gujrathi  (IND)000½100*

Hans Niemann held the sole lead after the fifth round, with a score of 4.5/5. His last two games, however, were against top contenders Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana. He took his first defeat to Hikaru, putting Hikaru in the overall lead with 5/6. Niemann then took a second loss, this time to Caruana, leaving his score at 4.5/7, which was still enough to advance.

Hikaru had the highest score in either round-robin group with 6/7, the next highest being 4.5/7. He took two draws and was one of only three players to suffer no losses, the other two being Sindarov and Caruana. Caruana made six consecutive draws before finally taking a win in his last game, against Hans Niemann.

Vidit Gujrathi, similar to his performance in the Paris Grand Slam, struggled in the round-robin stage, ending with the second lowest score of 1.5/7.

Knockout Stage

Upper Bracket

Quarterfinals (Jul 17) Semifinals (Jul 18) Final (Jul 20)
         
W1 Flag of India.svg  R Praggnanandhaa  (IND)3
B4 Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)4
B4 Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)
B2 Flag of the United States.svg  Hans Niemann  (USA)
B2 Flag of the United States.svg  Hans Niemann  (USA)4
W3 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Javokhir Sindarov  (UZB)2
B2 Flag of the United States.svg  Hans Niemann  (USA)½
W4 Flag of the United States.svg  Levon Aronian  (USA)
B1 Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)
W4 Flag of the United States.svg  Levon Aronian  (USA)
W4 Flag of the United States.svg  Levon Aronian  (USA)2
B3 Flag of India.svg  Arjun Erigaisi  (IND)0
W2 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Nodirbek Abdusattorov  (UZB)½
B3 Flag of India.svg  Arjun Erigaisi  (IND)

Lower Bracket

Lower Quarterfinals (Jul 17) Intermediate Stage 1 (Jul 18) Intermediate Stage 2 (Jul 19) Lower Semifinals (Jul 19) Third Place Match (Jul 20)
B4 Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)1
B1 Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)3
W2 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Nodirbek Abdusattorov  (UZB)1
B6 Flag of the United States.svg  Sam Sevian  (USA)½ W7 Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)3
W7 Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)W7 Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)½
B1 Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)
B1 Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)2
B5 Flag of the United States.svg  Leinier Domínguez  (USA)B5 Flag of the United States.svg  Leinier Domínguez  (USA)0
W8 Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Bibisara Assaubayeva  (KAZ)½ B1 Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)½
W5 Flag of Norway.svg  Magnus Carlsen  (NOR)
B3 Flag of India.svg  Arjun Erigaisi  (IND)0
W5 Flag of Norway.svg  Magnus Carlsen  (NOR)2
W1 Flag of India.svg  R Praggnanandhaa  (IND)
W6 Flag of Germany.svg  Vincent Keymer  (GER)W6 Flag of Germany.svg  Vincent Keymer  (GER)½
B7 Flag of the United States.svg  Ray Robson  (USA)W1 Flag of India.svg  R Praggnanandhaa  (IND)1
W5 Flag of Norway.svg  Magnus Carlsen  (NOR)3
W3 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Javokhir Sindarov  (UZB)½
W5 Flag of Norway.svg  Magnus Carlsen  (NOR)2W5 Flag of Norway.svg  Magnus Carlsen  (NOR)
B8 Flag of India.svg  Vidit Gujrathi  (IND)0

Fifth and Seventh Place Matches

Fifth Place Match (Jul 20)
B4 Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)2
B3 Flag of India.svg  Arjun Erigaisi  (IND)0
Seventh Place Match (Jul 20)
W7 Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)½
W1 Flag of India.svg  R Praggnanandhaa  (IND)

Final classification

Pos.PlayerPrize moneyPoints
1Flag of the United States.svg  Levon Aronian  (USA)$200,00025
2Flag of the United States.svg  Hans Niemann  (USA)$140,00018
3Flag of Norway.svg  Magnus Carlsen  (NOR)$100,00015
4Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)$60,00012
5Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)$50,00010
6Flag of India.svg  Arjun Erigaisi  (IND)$40,0008
7 Flag of India.svg  R Praggnanandhaa  (IND)$30,0006
8 Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)$20,0004
9–12Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Nodirbek Abdusattorov  (UZB)$10,0002
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Javokhir Sindarov  (UZB)$10,000
Flag of the United States.svg  Leinier Domínguez  (USA)$10,000
Flag of Germany.svg  Vincent Keymer  (GER)$10,000
13–16Flag of the United States.svg  Ray Robson  (USA)$7,5000
Flag of the United States.svg  Sam Sevian  (USA)$7,500
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Bibisara Assaubayeva  (KAZ)$7,500
Flag of India.svg  Vidit Gujrathi  (IND)$7,500
Sources: [9] [2]

References

      1. "Freestyle Chess' Grand Slam Tour Will Make its U.S. Debut at Wynn Las Vegas". www.freestyle-chess.com. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
      2. 1 2 "Official Rules and Regulations" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-07-07. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
      3. "Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Paris - Play-in: Open Qualifier". Chess.com. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
      4. "Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Paris - Play-in: Swiss Stage". Chess.com. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
      5. "3.000 Teilnehmer und Freestyle-Rating". 2025-04-08. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
      6. "Freestyle rating" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-06-23.
      7. 1 2 3 4 Colodro, Carlos Alberto (2025-07-16). "Freestyle Chess Las Vegas: A formidable field and a new format". ChessBase. Retrieved 2025-07-19.
      8. "Freestyle Chess lands in Las Vegas". Freestyle Chess. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
      9. https://www.chess.com/events/2025-freestyle-chess-grand-slam-las-vegas-group-white