Indian chess prodigy Arjun Erigaisi has made history by becoming the first Indian player to reach the semifinals of the prestigious Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas.
Arjun’s Historic Semifinal Berth
Arjun Erigaisi secured his spot in the last four after a convincing victory over Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov at the Wynn casino hotel. His win marks a significant milestone for Indian chess on the global stage.
The young grandmaster won the first rapid game and then held his ground to draw the second, effectively eliminating Abdusattorov from the competition. He is now set to face the formidable Levon Aronian on July 19 in what promises to be an exciting clash.
A Dominant Display
Arjun showcased exceptional form throughout his quarterfinal match. In the second game, playing with white pieces, he gained a crucial advantage early on by winning a rook for a bishop. This material superiority allowed him to systematically overpower Abdusattorov, making it a clear win.
Even in the first game, Arjun had a strong position from the opening. Despite some minor errors later that allowed his opponent to secure a draw, his overall performance demonstrated a high level of control and strategic insight.
Praggnanandhaa’s Epic Battle
While Arjun celebrated his advance, fellow Indian Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa faced a tough challenge against American GM Fabiano Caruana. Their match turned into an epic seven-game “royal rumble” that stretched for over 10 hours.
Despite a valiant effort, Praggnanandhaa ultimately lost to Caruana. However, this isn’t the end of his journey in the tournament. He now moves into the lower bracket, where he will join seven other players for another set of knockout games, still with a chance to compete.
Tournament Highlights and Other Key Players
Beyond Arjun, the other players advancing to the upper-bracket semifinals are Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian, and Hans Niemann. Aronian secured his spot by defeating compatriot Hikaru Nakamura with a 2.5-1.5 score over four games.
Hans Niemann also progressed, overcoming Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov in a longer six-game battle that ended 4-2. The tournament also saw intense action in the lower bracket, with world number one Magnus Carlsen regaining his form to defeat Vidit Gujrathi 2-0.
Other notable lower bracket results include American Wesley So’s 1.5-0.5 win against Samuel Sevian, Leinier Dominguez Perez’s smooth 1.5-0.5 victory over Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Vincent Keymer of Germany defeating Robson Ray 2.5-1.5.
- Arjun Erigaisi is the first Indian to reach the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour semifinals.
- He defeated Nodirbek Abdusattorov to advance.
- Arjun will face Levon Aronian in the next round.
- Praggnanandhaa moved to the lower bracket after a long match against Fabiano Caruana.
- Magnus Carlsen, Wesley So, Leinier Dominguez Perez, and Vincent Keymer secured wins in the lower bracket.
The Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour continues to deliver thrilling matches, showcasing some of the world’s best chess talent.
