Latest news with #Carlsen
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First Post
6 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
‘Not going to win every tournament but...': Magnus Carlsen on third-place finish at Las Vegas Freestyle event
Magnus Carlsen fought back from a poor start to finish third at the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, beating Hikaru Nakamura in the $100,000 playoff. Levon Aronian won the title against Hans Niemann, with Carlsen praising his resilience. read more World No.1 Magnus Carlsen made a strong comeback to finish third at the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam on Monday. The five-time World Champion had a slow start to the tournament and suffered some early setbacks before making a comeback. Carlsen lost crucial games to Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa and American-Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian in the classification round, which meant he missed out on the quarterfinals and could no longer fight for the title. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, the Norwegian superstar didn't give up and dominated the lower bracket, winning five matches in a row before defeating American GM Hikaru Nakamura in the third-place playoff match to win $100,000 prize (over Rs 86 lakh) and finish on the podium. 'I had one really bad day, and that cost me in the end. But winning five matches in a row, even if the stakes aren't that high, feels really good,' Carlsen said about his performance at the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam. 'It was a bit up and down but overall I'm fairly happy with my level in those few games. I felt like I finished off with a really nice win as Black. It builds confidence for my next event. Things obviously weren't looking that rosy on Wednesday, and I was pretty hard on myself then as well. But now winning the last few matches is always nice. I'm not going to win every tournament but I'm very happy with the way I fought back. So, I will definitely take some positives from this tournament,' he added. Aronian wins the title Meanwhile, Levon Aronian went on to win the event, beating American GM Hans Niemann 1.5-0.5 in the final to claim the $200,000 prize (Rs 1.7 crore). Aronian held firm in a tough first game before putting on a brilliant performance in the second to seal the victory. Carlsen praised Aronian for his resilience and said he was the 'deserved winner.' It is also important to note that Carlsen and Niemann have a tense history. Their relationship soured after Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating back in 2022, which created a huge controversy in the chess world. Niemann later filed a lawsuit against Carlsen, seeking damages for defamation. Although the legal dispute was eventually settled, the rivalry between the two has remained tense. 'It was incredibly impressive, very well deserved as well. He faced a lot of adversity for sure, especially the second game against Hikaru, it took a lot of mental resilience to be able to continue to press after he had several little chances to win, but he didn't take them. The way he fought in difficult positions against Arjun as well. Like, he was completely busted but came back,' Carlsen said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I'm very, very happy for Levon. Um, he is… I think he has probably been the biggest fan of freestyle among the top players for many years. There is always some consolation in having lost to the tournament winner. And clearly, you know, the deserved one,' he added.


News18
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Magnus Carlsen Shares Awkward Encounter With Hans Niemann At Freestyle Chess: WATCH
Last Updated: At the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Niemann's tense moment with Carlsen went viral. Their past cheating controversy led to a $100M lawsuit, which was settled. During the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, a particularly awkward moment unfolded at the award ceremony when Hans Niemann stepped onto the stage. Magnus Carlsen was visibly uncomfortable and his reaction, captured on video, quickly went viral, highlighting the unresolved tension between the two players. Carlsen's Early Exit and Niemann's Reaction In the tournament itself, Carlsen was shockingly eliminated in the group stage after losses to R Praggnanandhaa, Wesley So, and Levon Aronian. Niemann, serving as a commentator, was on camera reacting exuberantly to Carlsen's tie-break loss against Aronian. His animated response, including cheering and shouting encouragement, underlined the continued psychological drama. Carlsen and Niemann's Cheating Controversy A major controversy rocked the chess world in September 2022 during the Sinquefield Cup, when reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen unexpectedly withdrew after losing to 19-year-old grandmaster Hans Niemann in the third round. Carlsen's abrupt exit sparked widespread speculation that he was accusing Niemann of cheating—though he never stated this directly. The situation escalated when, in a subsequent online tournament, Carlsen resigned after just one move against Niemann, further fueling suspicions and media frenzy. In October 2022, Niemann filed a $100 million lawsuit against Carlsen, his company Play Magnus Group, the site's Chief Chess Officer Daniel Rensch, and grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. Niemann claimed defamation and unlawful collusion, arguing that internal report exaggerated his history of cheating and was part of a broader conspiracy to damage his reputation. However, the lawsuit was dismissed in June 2023 by a U.S. district court. By August 2023, all parties reached a settlement. reinstated Niemann on its platform, and Carlsen agreed to play him in future events if paired. The resolution effectively closed the legal chapter of the dispute. view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 17:39 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Magnus Carlsen's awkward reaction to Hans Niemann's entry at award ceremony goes viral
Magnus Carlsen (Screengrabs) A tense moment unfolded during the award ceremony at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas, and it has since gone viral. As Hans Niemann walked onto the stage to collect his runner-up trophy, world champion Magnus Carlsen remained still and did not clap, creating an awkward silence that quickly caught the attention of fans and cameras alike. However, when Levon Aronian's name was announced, Carlsen's demeanour changed completely. He applauded warmly, lighting up the stage with cheers for the Armenian chess legend. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The viral clip has reignited the public narrative around the frosty relationship between Carlsen and Niemann, stemming from their highly publicised feud in 2022. Watch: Fans have flooded social media with comments, with many interpreting Carlsen's silence as a deliberate statement. Levon Aronian made headlines by clinching his first Freestyle Chess Grand Slam crown on Sunday at Wynn Las Vegas. The 42-year-old defeated Hans Niemann 1.5-0.5 in the Grand Final, claiming a massive $200,000 prize. Earlier in the week, Aronian delivered stunning upsets, knocking out both Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. His dominant second game in the final sealed the championship after an opening draw, cementing his reputation as a fierce competitor in freestyle chess. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Gina Rinehart Is Betting $800M on This Fat Tail Daily Learn More Undo World's Youngest Rated Chess Player Is Just 4—And He's from India Niemann, who was close to securing the biggest win of his career, had to settle for second place and $140,000. Meanwhile, Carlsen bounced back from his semifinal exit by defeating Nakamura in a high-stakes third-place clash, earning $160,000. This result keeps Carlsen on top of the Grand Slam Tour standings despite missing out on the Las Vegas title. Fabiano Caruana claimed fifth place by beating Arjun Erigaisi 2-0, while Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu overcame Wesley So 1.5-0.5 to finish seventh. The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam now moves to its next destination, with Aronian's breakthrough victory setting the tone for the season. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!


The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Las Vegas 2025: Magnus Carlsen beats Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi to book third-place playoff vs Nakamura
Five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen produced a stunning comeback, winning five games on the trot, to book a spot in the third-place playoff, against USA's Hikaru Nakamura, in the Freestyle Chess Las Vegas Grand Slam on Sunday. Carlsen suffered a chaotic first-round loss to India's R. Praggnanandhaa in the Intermediate Round, before forcing a tiebreak with a win in the second round. The Norwegian GM then won both the 5+2 games, as he outwitted Praggnanandhaa tactically in time pressure. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW - Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Las Vegas 2025 Carlsen continued his rollicking run, as he trumped Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi in the lower-bracket semifinal, winning both games with ease. Nakamura will take on Carlsen for third place in the Freestyle Chess Las Vegas Grand Slam. | Photo Credit: Lennart Ootes/Freestyle Chess. Meanwhile, Nakamura worked his way past two of his compatriots - Wesley So in the Intermediate Round and Fabiano Caruana in the lower-bracket semifinal - to give himself a chance for a spot on the podium in Las Vegas. Sunday, the final day of the competition, will feature the following matches: Final - Hans Niemann vs. Levon Aronian Third-place playoff - Magnus Carlsen vs. Hikaru Nakamura Fifth-place playoff - Fabiano Caruana vs. Arjun Erigaisi Seventh-place playoff - R. Praggnanandhaa vs. Wesley So


Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Not going to win every tournament,' ‘I was pretty hard on myself': Carlsen takes pride in fighting back at Las Vegas Freestyle event
After a slow start and multiple setbacks, World No.1 and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen mounted a big comeback to finish third at the Las Vegas leg of Freestyle Chess Grand Slam event on Monday. After losing to Indian GM R Praggnanandhaa and American-Armenian Levon Aronian in the classification round for a spot in the quarterfinals, Carlsen's chances to fight for the title vanished. However, the Norwegian dominated the lower bracket, winning all knockout rounds before beating Hikaru Nakamura in the third-place match. 'I had one really bad day, and that cost me in the end. But winning five matches in a row, even if the stakes aren't that high, feels really good,' saidCarlsen after taking home $100,000. 'It was a bit up and down but overall I'm fairly happy with my level in those few games. I felt like I finished off with a really nice win as Black. It builds confidence for my next event. Things obviously weren't looking that rosy on Wednesday, and I was pretty hard on myself then as well. But now winning the last few matches is always nice. I'm not going to win every tournament but I'm very happy with the way I fought back. So, I will definitely take some positives from this tournament,' he added. Aronian beat compatriot Hans Niemann in the final to win the event. Carlsen said he was happy for Aronian and the Armenian was the deserved winner. 'It was incredibly impressive, very well deserved as well. He faced a lot of adversity for sure, especially the second game against Hikaru, it took a lot of mental resilience to be able to continue to press after he had several little chances to win, but he didn't take them. The way he fought in difficult positions against Arjun as well. Like, he was completely busted but came back,' said Carlsen on Aronian. 'I'm very, very happy for Levon. Um, he is… I think he has probably been the biggest fan of freestyle among the top players for many years. There is always some consolation in having lost to the tournament winner. And clearly, you know, the deserved one,' he added.