Levon Aronian has clinched the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour title in Las Vegas, taking home a substantial prize, while India’s top talents, Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa, also secured impressive earnings.
Aronian Claims Top Honors
Veteran chess grandmaster Levon Aronian emerged victorious at the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. His dominant performance earned him the coveted title and a massive prize check of $200,000, which converts to approximately Rs 1.7 crore.
Aronian sealed his first Freestyle Chess Grand Slam crown by defeating Hans Niemann in the Grand Final with a score of 1.5-0.5.
The Big Winners: Niemann and Carlsen
Hans Niemann, despite falling short in the final, still walked away significantly richer. He pocketed $140,000, which is roughly Rs 1.2 crore.
World-renowned chess player Magnus Carlsen secured the third position in the tournament standings. For his bronze-medal performance, Carlsen received $100,000, also amounting to around Rs 1.2 crore.
India’s Strong Showing: Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa
Indian grandmasters demonstrated their prowess at the Las Vegas event, with Arjun Erigaisi leading the charge. He was India’s best finisher, securing an impressive sixth place.
Arjun’s strong run earned him over Rs 34 lakhs ($40,000). Following closely was Praggnanandhaa, who finished seventh and took home Rs 25 lakhs ($30,000).
Arjun’s Challenging Path to Sixth
Arjun Erigaisi was the sole Indian player to reach the semi-finals, where he competed against a strong field including three American players. His journey saw him face and lose to the eventual champion, Levon Aronian.
Later, Arjun played Magnus Carlsen in the match for third place but was defeated 2-0. He also faced a loss against Fabiano Caruana, highlighting the intense competition at the top tiers of the tournament.
Praggnanandhaa Reflects on Performance
Praggnanandhaa secured his seventh-place finish after a key victory over Wesley So. Despite his final ranking, he felt his play throughout the tournament was stronger than the result indicated.
“Seventh doesn’t sound well but I feel I played much better than [where] I finished at the end,” Pragg commented. He emphasized the importance of improving his drawing skills in crucial moments, stating, “I should learn to make some draws because I was not making them when I needed to.”
Vidit Gujrathi’s Earnings
Another Indian grandmaster, Vidit Gujrathi, also participated in the high-stakes event. He finished joint 13th alongside four other players, earning $7,500 (approximately Rs 6.4 lakhs).
- Levon Aronian won the title and $200,000 (approx. Rs 1.7 crore).
- Arjun Erigaisi finished 6th, earning $40,000 (over Rs 34 lakhs).
- Praggnanandhaa finished 7th, earning $30,000 (Rs 25 lakhs).
The Las Vegas tournament underlined the global appeal and lucrative nature of top-tier chess, with significant rewards for the world’s best players.
