&w=3840&q=100)
Niemann's impressive runs ends in Freestyle Chess Las Vegas final as Aronian wins; Carlsen beats Nakamura for 3rd spot
Levon Aronian did not need tiebreaks as he defeated Hans Niemann 1.5-0.5 in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Las Vegas final. Image: Freestyle Chess
Controversial Grandmaster Hans Niemann's dream run at the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam came to an end in the final as former World Rapid and Blitz champion Levon Aronian captured the trophy with a comprehensive win on Sunday. Aronian claimed the $200,000 prize money after beating Niemann 1.5-0.5 in the final.
Meanwhile, world No.1 Magnus Carlsen finished third by beating Hikaru Nakamura after being eliminated from the title race and clinched the $100,000 prize money.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Aronian downs spirited Niemann
Nonetheless, the biggest story from the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas has been the stupendous form of Niemann in a tournament that is co-owned by Carlsen. Niemann had been accused of cheating by Carlsen, but those allegations could not stop him from obliterating all the challenges that came his way, as the 22-year-old reached the final, where he met the other in-form player, Aronian, the one who eliminated Carlsen to the lower bracket.
Niemann played the first game of the final with white pieces and created a stonewall pawn structure in the centre that was also mimicked by Aronian. However, the American GM pulled off an intermezzo, resulting in a position where he was up by a pawn in an opposite-coloured bishop endgame. He eventually failed to pounce on Aronian's errors as the match ended in a draw.
The second game witnessed a Queen's Gambit opening as Aronian soon took control of the game and with the move 17.Nb4!, created a nice path to the victory. The match eventually lasted for 37 minutes before Niemann threw in the towel and took home a prize money of $140,000. He has also confirmed a spot in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tournament in South Africa.
How Carlsen defeated Nakamura
The first Carlsen vs Nakamura game ended in a draw with the former having the white pieces. In the second game, Carlsen seized an early queenside edge and steadily increased pressure on Nakamura's castled king. His light-squared bishop proved decisive, and once it anchored itself on the e4-square, the match was locked.
In the match for the fifth-place finish, Fabiano Caruana defeated India's Arjun Erigaisi 2-0, while R Praggnanandhaa defeated Wesley So 1.5-0.5 to finish seventh. The top six are guaranteed a spot in the South Africa leg.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
India vs England 5th Test Live Updates Day 1: Selection dilemma for Shubman Gill and co. before decisive fifth match
India vs England 5th Test Live Updates Day 1: IND vs ENG: A long summer of Test match cricket comes down to this: a decisive fifth Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between England and India, with the hosts leading the series 2-1 but India having the chance to retain to rotating trophy once again for a fourth series in a row, only if they can find a More It is therefore a beautifully simple equation as we head to the Kia Oval in London for the last match of this enthralling series, and it's only right that the series is this tight and undecided heading to the fifth match: all four matches thus far have reached the fifth day with things in the balance, most of those matches being there for the win for either team. With key players missing, batters in top form, and plenty of drama in the lead-up to this match as tempers erupted on and off the pitch, the stage is set for a chaotic and enthralling end to the series for Shubman Gill and his team. Thanks to third innings centuries from his bat in conjunction with Washington Sundar (batting at number 5) and Ravindra Jadeja, India rescued a dire situation in Manchester. Add to this the response Jadeja and Sundar faced late in the day from the England players as they tried to reach their respective centuries, and it cut a figure of a home team frustrated, tired, and a little mentally drained from how much Gill's young Indian team was pushing them. India are unlucky to be down in this series, with spurts of bad cricket being their undoing — but at the moment, it feels like they have the momentum just a touch in their favour, and that could prove to be significant. However, India will miss their best player and their talismanic fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who they have been able to rely on for spectacular performances. However, there are some who see this as a blessing in disguise: not having Bumrah to rely on seems to bring the ebay out of India's other seamers, and with the pacer off his best in Manchester and clearly struggling physically, giving him a rest for a fresher bowler might just prove to be more helpful than Indian fans want to admit. But India are not the only ones struggling with injury. Across the divide is an England team who will be without their terrific leader, the man who has shouldered the burden to take responsibility and lead from the front, and injured that shoulder in the process. Ben Stokes' importance to the English team cannot be understated: not only is he the forward-thinking captain that is essential for the Bazball approach to work, but was also making a massive difference with ball as he took telling wickets that had huge impact on every game. Along with Stokes, Jofra Archer is also missing, meaning there are a series of changes as England try to find the right balance for this match, where they will be captained by Ollie Pope. India's team plans, meanwhile, remain uncertain, with changes certain to happen but with various players battling it out for very few spots. A debut for Arshdeep Singh, a chance for Kuldeep Yadav, or sticking with the tried-and-tested method used by coach Gautam Gambhir thus far in his young Test match tenure?
Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
Ben Stokes still facing heat from Australia over handshake-gate: ‘Everything's got to stop because England are done'
The final day of the fourth Test at Manchester between India and England continues to stir debate, not for the quality of cricket but for the drama in the final half-hour. While several former players have offered mixed views on the early handshake initiated by Ben Stokes and England, former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin has come out in strong support of the Indian team's decision to bat on. England's captain Ben Stokes (L) shakes hands with India's Ravindra Jadeja (R) for a draw on day five of the fourth cricket test match between England and India at Old Trafford(AFP) Appearing on LiSTNR Sport's YouTube channel, Haddin praised the grit and resistance shown by India's batters, particularly Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, who blunted England's attack after being two down for nothing. 'It's interesting at the end of that Test match because India were two for none. So England are up and about. They thought they were going to win the Test. And that was an unbelievable partnership. Gill once again, KL Rahul was outstanding. And as the game went on, and India showed tremendous fight, unbelievable, the application they showed to bat,' Haddin said. As the match headed into the final hour, with India clearly safe and both Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja closing in on personal landmarks, England made the surprising call to end the match early. Haddin, however, found no fault in India's approach. 'Then, all of a sudden, it got to a situation where England said they can't win, so let's stop the game. So everything's got to stop because England are done playing. I like what India did, mate, they earned the right to stay out there as long as they need to. They had the right to get a hundred,' he added. The drama began when Ben Stokes approached the crease with an offer to shake hands and call the game a draw, but both Indian batters refused. With five overs left in the day, they chose to continue, chasing personal milestones. What followed was a verbal exchange between the England players and the Indian duo, but both Jadeja and Sundar went on to complete their centuries before eventually agreeing to the draw. Lloyd opposed India's decision Not everyone agreed with India's decision. Former England cricketer David Lloyd was particularly scathing. 'There's a facility to end the game. Take the bails off because it's a farce. Would you want to get your (100) if you're on 80, would you want to get your maiden Test match century against law books?' he said on The Overlap. 'I think the umpire, the game, there's a facility in the game to call a stalemate, of which Ben Stokes called the stalemate,' Lloyd added. But to many, including Haddin, India simply played within the rules and earned the right to stay.
News18
9 minutes ago
- News18
India Vs England Live Score, 5th Test Day 1: Will Jasprit Bumrah Play At The Oval?
The curtain rises on the final act of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with England leading 2-1 but India carrying momentum after a dramatic escape at Manchester, where Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar struck heroic centuries, supported by Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, to force a memorable draw. Now, all roads lead to The Oval, a venue where India have won just twice in 15 attempts, and the stakes couldn't be higher. The last time they played here, it was the WTC final in 2023, where they faced a big defeat against Australia. Skipper Shubman Gill has been the heartbeat of this series, smashing four centuries, including a record-breaking 269 at Edgbaston, and needs just 11 runs to surpass Sunil Gavaskar's iconic 732-run series tally, and 53 to eclipse his 1971 record of 774 (Most runs by an Indian player in a Test series). KL Rahul's consistency at the top, Ravindra Jadeja's grit, and Sundar's brilliance have bolstered India's batting, but they are still looking for someone to make the number three position their own and Jaiswal also needs to find his focus back, especially with Pant ruled out. Jasprit Bumrah will also miss this game, leaving Mohammed Siraj to lead the pace attack and the gloves likely to go to Dhruv Jurel, but this time, he will be able to contribute with the bat as well. Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh's inclusion could add freshness to the bowling lineup, which has lacked depth beyond Siraj and Jadeja. Things have gotten heated at times during this fiercely contested series, with tempers flaring and words exchanged, but that only underlines the passion and intensity both sides have brought to the battle – it's been cricket at its competitive best. England, meanwhile, have thrived on Joe Root's consistency who broke numerous records in the last game, with the most notable one being going past Ricky Ponting in the all-time Test run-scorers list, Ben Stokes' clutch knocks and spells (Back-to-Back Player of the Match performances), and Ben Duckett's aggressive starts, while Jofra Archer remains the spearhead of a pace attack now reinforced by Jamie Overton. Their strength lies in relentless seam and batting depth, but they've shown fragility when put under pressure late in games. However, the likes of Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith have shown they can handle the pressure and get their team out of difficult situations. With the pitch at The Oval expected to start flat before breaking up to assist spinners, this decider promises a classic. For India, it's about defying history and sealing a famous comeback, for England, it's about finishing strong and getting their hands on the trophy. Records, pride, and the series hang in the balance – the final chapter awaits, and it's set to be unforgettable.
