Latest news with #FreestyleGrandSlamTour
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Freestyle Grand Slam Tour: Arjun Erigaisi's record run halted in semi-finals; all-American final in Vegas
Arjun Erigaisi lost his semi-final in the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas. (Image: X/TakeTakeTakeApp) Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi's remarkable journey at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas came to an end in the semifinals after a 0-2 loss to Armenian-born American Levon Aronian on Friday. Erigaisi had made history as the first Indian to reach the semifinals of the prestigious tournament. Erigaisi's impressive run included victories over Magnus Carlsen in the preliminary playoffs and Hikaru Nakamura in the quarterfinals. However, he struggled to capitalise on his advantages against Aronian in the first game. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Despite finding himself in a challenging position, Aronian maintained his composure and secured victory when Erigaisi failed to convert his favourable position. The second game saw the American needing only a draw to advance. Aronian gained a slight edge in the opening of the second game. While the position appeared balanced, Erigaisi's necessary pursuit of victory led to risky decisions that ultimately proved costly. In the other semi-final, American Hans Niemann advanced to the finals by defeating compatriot Fabiano Caruana. Despite arriving late for the first game, Niemann secured a draw and eventually won the match 2.5-1.5 with skilled middlegame play. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa secured a victory in the playoff for 3rd-8th place against Germany's Vincent Keymer. After drawing the first game with black pieces, Praggnanandhaa won the second game for a 1.5-0.5 triumph. World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen matched Praggnanandhaa's score, defeating Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov 1.5-0.5. In other matches, Wesley So of the United States overcame Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov 3-1. American Hikaru Nakamura dominated his countryman Leinier Dominguez Perez with a 2-0 victory. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
United News of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Erigaisi reaches SFs, Praggnanandhaa edged out
Las Vegas, July 18 (UNI) A new chapter will be written in the Arjun Erigaisi–Levon Aronian saga as the Indian Grandmaster stormed into the semifinals of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, defeating Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov 1.5-0.5 in just two games of the 30'+30" time control. Arjun, with this win, became the first Indian ever to reach the semifinals stage of a Freestyle Grand Slam Tour event. The first game against Abdusattorov was drawn after a tense positional struggle. However, in the second game, Arjun capitalised on a questionable exchange sacrifice by the Uzbek prodigy. A later knight trade further widened the material gap, and despite stiff resistance, Arjun converted the advantage into a crucial victory. With this, Arjun has set up a highly anticipated clash with seasoned American GM Levon Aronian, who got past Hikaru Nakamura 2.5-1.5 in their semifinal encounter. Meanwhile, in arguably the most thrilling quarterfinal battle of the event, R Praggnanandhaa and Fabiano Caruana (USA) exchanged victories across six games in three time controls — 30'+30", 10'+10", and 5'+2". The marathon eventually culminated in an Armageddon game where Caruana prevailed, securing a spot in the semifinals. Hans Niemann (USA) also made headlines by eliminating Javokhir Sindarov (UZB), ensuring his place in the semifinals, where he will face Caruana. In the Lower Bracket, Magnus Carlsen (NOR) demonstrated vintage dominance as he blanked Vidit Gujrathi 2-0. Carlsen now awaits his next opponent from among the Upper Bracket Quarterfinal losers in the Lower Bracket QF. The Upper Bracket semifinals and Lower Bracket quarterfinal Game 1 are scheduled to begin today at 10:30 pm IST. UNI BDN BM
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
India's Arjun Erigaisi Enters Freestyle Grand Slam Chess Semifinals, R Praggnanadhaa Loses Thriller
Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi defeated Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov to storm into the semifinals but R Praggnanandhaa bowed out of the title race after losing to USA's Fabiano Caruana at the USD 750,000 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour. Arjun prevailed over Abdusattorov 1.5-0.5 while Praggnanandhaa lost an intense battle 3-4 against Caruana. The American duo of Levon Aronian and Hans Moke Niemann were the other winners in the quarterfinal stage, defeating compatriot Hikaru Nakamura and Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan, respectively. While Aronian won by a 2.5-1.5 margin over four games, Niemann took longer in beating Sindarov 4-2. In the semifinals, Arjun will take on Aronian while Niemann will meet Caruana. In the lower bracket, world number one Magnus Carlslen regained his winning touch and ousted Vidit Gujrathi 2-0. American Wesley So won 1.5-0.5 against compatriot Samuel Sevian while Leinier Dominguez Perez had a smooth 1.5-0.5 victory over Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan. Vincent Keymer of Germany, the winner of the first leg, defeated Robson Ray, also from America, by 2.5-1.5 margin. Arjun was a class act in both games and enjoyed the advantage from the word go. Playing white in the second game the Indian won a rook for a Bishop early, and very soon, it did not look like a Freestyle game, as Arjun simply overpowered Abdusattorov with his extra material. Earlier in the first game too, Arjun enjoyed an advantage after the opening, but some unforced errors in the later part of the game allowed the Uzbek to get a half point. Praggnanandhaa and Caruana were involved in as many as seven decisive games and the Indian was in lead on three occasions. Praggnanandhaa won the first, lost the second and the story continued till the sixth, until Caruana pulled away before winning the decisive seventh game. It is not the end of the road for Praggnanandhaa though as he now moves to the lower bracket with seven other players for another set of knockout games. Results quarterfinals: Arjun Erigaisi (Ind) beat Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) 1.5-0.5; R Praggnanandhaa (Ind) lost to Fabiano Caruana (Usa) 3-4; Levon Aronian (Usa) beat Hikarru Nakamura (Usa) 2.5-1.5; Hans Moke Niemann (Usa) beat Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb) 4-2. Lower bracket: Lenier Dominguez Perez (Usa) beat Bibisara Assaubuyeva (Kaz) 1.5-0.5; Magnus Carlsen (Nor) beat Vidit Gujrathi (Ind) 2-0; Wesley So (Usa) beat Samuel Sevian (Usa) 1.5-0.5; Vincent Keymer (Ger) beat Robson Ray 2.5-1.5.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Erigaisi storms into semifinals, Praggnanadhaa bows out of title race
Arjun prevailed over Abdusattorov 1.5-0.5 while Praggnanandhaa lost an intense battle 3-4 against Caruana. Press Trust of India Las Vegas Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi defeated Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov to storm into the semifinals but R Praggnanandhaa bowed out of the title race after losing to USA's Fabiano Caruana at the USD 750,000 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour here. Arjun prevailed over Abdusattorov 1.5-0.5 while Praggnanandhaa lost an intense battle 3-4 against Caruana. The American duo of Levon Aronian and Hans Moke Niemann were the other winners in the quarterfinal stage, defeating compatriot Hikaru Nakamura and Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan respectively. While Aronian won by a 2.5-1.5 margin over four games, Niemann took longer in beating Sindarov 4-2. In the semifinals, Arjun will take on Aronian while Niemann will meet Caruana. In the lower bracket, world number one Magnus Carlslen regained his winning touch and ousted Vidit Gujrathi 2-0. American Wesley So won 1.5-0.5 against compatriot Samuel Sevian while Leinier Dominguez Perez had a smooth 1.5-0.5 victory over Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan. Vincent Keymer of Germany, the winner of the first leg, defeated Robson Ray, also from America, by 2.5-1.5 margin. Arjun was a class act in both games and enjoyed the advantage from the word go. Playing white in the second game the Indian won a rook for a Bishop early, and very soon, it did not look like a Freestyle game, as Arjun simply overpowered Abdusattorov with his extra material. Earlier in the first game too, Arjun enjoyed an advantage after the opening, but some unforced errors in the later part of the game allowed the Uzbek to get a half point. Praggnanandhaa and Caruana were involved in as many as seven decisive games and the Indian was in lead on three occasions. Praggnanandhaa won the first, lost the second and the story continued till the sixth, until Caruana pulled away before winning the decisive seventh game. It is not the end of the road for Praggnanandhaa though as he now moves to the lower bracket with seven other players for another set of knockout games. Results quarterfinals: Arjun Erigaisi (Ind) beat Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb) 1.5-0.5; R Praggnanandhaa (Ind) lost to Fabiano Caruana (Usa) 3-4; Levon Aronian (Usa) beat Hikarru Nakamura (Usa) 2.5-1.5; Hans Moke Niemann (Usa) beat Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb) 4-2. Lower bracket: Lenier Dominguez Perez (Usa) beat Bibisara Assaubuyeva (Kaz) 1.5-0.5; Magnus Carlsen (Nor) beat Vidit Gujrathi (Ind) 2-0; Wesley So (Usa) beat Samuel Sevian (Usa) 1.5-0.5; Vincent Keymer (Ger) beat Robson Ray 2.5-1.5. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Praggnanandhaa loses to Caruana after 7-game marathon lasting over 10 hours; Arjun Erigaisi, Hans Niemann in semis
Arjun Erigaisi entered the semi-final of the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour on Friday after prevailing over Nodirbek Abdusattorov in a straightforward two-game contest at the Wynn casino hotel. But what Arjun's game lacked in drama — and in length — his good friend Praggnanandhaa delivered: the Indian played out a seven-game royal rumble against Fabiano Caruana that lasted just over 10 hours. In the end, unfortunately, Praggnanandhaa lost. Arjun and Caruana will be joined in the semi-finals by Hans Niemann and Levon Aronian. The Praggnanandhaa vs Fabiano Caruana, which lasted for 10 hours, had plenty of drama: rooks being blundered, both players winning on demand, and even a unique Armageddon game where players had to make secret bids on time they would get on their clock. 'It's amazing. I've had a few of these matches, but none quite this long. And also with so many swings, you know, losing the first game and then coming back and then also losing with white… I thought it should be over at that point, but then somehow coming back in the rapid and then reversing. The Armageddon was also crazy. It was very, very complicated. And then he was also trying to flag me, but at some point I looked at the clock, I saw I had 17 seconds. I looked like a few minutes later, I still had 17 seconds. I thought, okay, I'm probably not going to get flagged,' Caruana told the official Freestyle Chess YouTube handle. The first game of the Praggnanandhaa vs Caruana showdown saw the Indian claim a win with white pieces, which meant that the American needed to win on demand in the reverse game with white pieces himself. Caruana did just that after a little help from Praggnanandhaa, who suddenly blundered his rook under time pressure. With the two 30 min (+ 30 sec per move increment) games proving inconclusive, both players were back on the board to battle it out in two 10 min (+ 10 sec per move) games. Here too, Praggnanandhaa won the first game, this time with black pieces. Then, he lost the reverse fixture with white pieces. Now the matter would be decided with an even frenetic pace: two games of 5+2 blitz games. In the first one, there was a wild time drama on the board was reflected on the evaluation bar which rocked up and down like a plane in turbulence with every couple of moves. Finally, Caruana emerged victorious. Now Praggnanandhaa needed to win on demand. And he did, thus forcing a unique Armageddon battle. The Armageddon format usually sees the player with white pieces have more time on the clock, but they need to win. The player with black pieces have less time on their clock, but they just have to hold out a draw to secure victory. At the Las Vegas event of the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour, there was a unique twist to this, with both players bidding the time they would want to play as black. Praggnanandhaa bid 4:27 for playing black, Caruana bid 4:02. So Praggnanandhaa played with white with five minutes on the clock while Caruana had draw odds with 4:02. It was there that Praggnanandhaa finally yielded. Caruana has played a few Armageddon games in the past and drew from those experiences. 'I got black in Armageddon every single time. I think that I realized probably it's good to have black I don't know why, but it feels better to have black, even if you're down a minute. In each Armageddon game, I felt like it's easier to play a bit faster. With black, you have less to worry about. With white, you always have to consider so many things and it gets in your head that you have to get an advantage or something. So, it feels a bit easier to play freely with black, which is why I went a bit lower (with his time for black bid).' In the other games of the tournament, Arjun defeated Nodirbek by winning the second 30+30 game after a hard-fought draw in the first game. Meanwhile, in the Lower Bracket, Carlsen defeated Vidit Gujrathi in both games. Besides Carlsen, Wesley So, Vincent Keymer and Leinier Dominguez also won their ties, thus eliminating Gujrathi, Sam Sevian, Ray Robson and Bibisara Assaubayeva — all four players were eliminated and shared 13th place at the tournament.
