Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi Bows Out in Semifinals of Freestyle Chess Grand Slam

Arjun Erigaisi's run at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam ended in the semifinals after a 0-2 defeat to Levon Aronian. Erigaisi had previously beaten Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. Hans Moke Niemann of the United States defeated Fabiano Caruana to reach the finals. R Praggnanandhaa defeated Vincent Keymer in a playoff for 3rd-8th place, while Magnus Carlsen beat Javokhir Sindarov. Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura also won their matches.

Arjun Erigaisi, the 21-year-old Indian chess prodigy and World Number 5, has made history by reaching the semifinals of the prestigious Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas. However, his impressive journey came to an end with a 0-2 defeat to seasoned Grandmaster Levon Aronian [1].

Erigaisi's run began with a clinical 1.5-0.5 victory over World No. 7 Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the quarterfinals, showcasing his creativity and fearless approach in the Chess960 (Freestyle) format [1]. This victory propelled him to the upper-bracket semifinals, where he faced Aronian, one of the most elite minds in modern chess [1].

In the semifinals, Aronian emerged victorious, defeating Erigaisi in two decisive games. Aronian, who had earlier beaten Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, proved to be a formidable opponent. Despite Erigaisi's impressive performance throughout the tournament, Aronian's experience and tactical prowess were too much to overcome [1].

Meanwhile, in another high-stakes match, Hans Moke Niemann of the United States defeated Fabiano Caruana to reach the finals. Niemann, known for his innovative play and strong nerves, secured his place in the final four after a grueling day of chess [1].

In the lower bracket, several notable matches were played. Magnus Carlsen, who had an off day in the first round, redeemed himself by defeating Vidit Gujrathi 2-0. Wesley So also secured his place in the next stage by defeating Sam Sevian 1.5-0.5. Vincent Keymer and Javokhir Sindarov were the other winners in the lower bracket, with Keymer defeating Robson and Sindarov beating Carlsen in the tiebreak [1].

The playoff for 3rd-8th place saw R Praggnanandhaa defeat Vincent Keymer, securing a top-eight finish for himself. Magnus Carlsen also advanced to the intermediate matches stage by defeating Sindarov [1].

Overall, the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas has been a showcase of the world's top chess talents, with Arjun Erigaisi's historic run serving as a testament to the growing influence of Indian chess players in international tournaments. Despite his early exit, Erigaisi's performance has earned him valuable points towards the overall Grand Slam standings and continues his impressive 2025 season [1].

References:
[1] https://www.business-standard.com/sports/other-sports-news/arjun-makes-history-1st-indian-semifinalist-in-freestyle-chess-grand-slam-125071800848_1.html
[2] https://www.freestyle-chess.com/news/caruana-aronian-niemann-arjun-in-quarterfinals/