Arjun Erigaisi’s impressive journey at the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour concluded in the semifinals, paving the way for a high-stakes final showdown between Levon Aronian and Hans Niemann.
Erigaisi’s Semifinal Dream Ends
The young Indian chess sensation, Arjun Erigaisi, made history by becoming the first Indian player to reach the semifinal stage of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. His path to the last four included a notable victory over Nodirbek Abdusattorov, showcasing his formidable talent.
However, his remarkable run was brought to a halt by the seasoned American-Armenian grandmaster, Levon Aronian. Aronian proved too strong, defeating Erigaisi with a decisive 2-0 score in the classical games, needing no tiebreakers.
Aronian’s Dominant Performance
Levon Aronian has been on an unstoppable charge throughout the tournament. His victory against Erigaisi was just the latest in a series of powerful performances.
Earlier in the week, Aronian stunned the chess world by knocking out top-ranked players, including Freestyle tour leader and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, and World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura. His consistent and solid play has made him a formidable opponent.
Niemann Clinches Final Spot
In the other semifinal match, American Hans Niemann secured his spot in the final by defeating fellow countryman Fabiano Caruana. Their match was a nail-biter, with both classical games ending in draws, pushing the contest into tiebreakers.
Niemann navigated a tense first rapid tiebreaker, surviving a close call. He then broke through in the second rapid game, executing a clinical attack to win the match 2.5-1.5, earning his place in the championship final against Aronian.
The Battle for the Podium Continues
While the final is set, the fight for a podium finish is far from over. Arjun Erigaisi and Fabiano Caruana, as the losers of the Upper Bracket semifinals, still have a chance to claim a top-three spot.
They will join the winners from the Lower Bracket semifinals. The Lower Bracket saw some fierce competition, with Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu all advancing to their respective semifinals. These four will battle it out, with their winners facing Erigaisi and Caruana for the remaining podium positions.
Expert Praise for Aronian
Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, who was eliminated earlier in the tournament, expressed his admiration for Aronian’s stellar play. “He’s clearly very inspired,” Vidit commented during the broadcast.
Vidit particularly highlighted Aronian’s clutch performances against Carlsen and Nakamura in blitz. “Especially against Hikaru, it is really admirable because Hikaru just needed a draw and he had the white pieces, to clutch from there is just very cool. I am impressed by him,” he added.
- Arjun Erigaisi reached the semifinals, marking a first for an Indian player in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour.
- Levon Aronian defeated Arjun Erigaisi 2-0 and will face Hans Niemann in the final.
- Aronian previously eliminated top players Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.
- Hans Niemann won his semifinal against Fabiano Caruana in a rapid tiebreaker.
- Arjun Erigaisi and Fabiano Caruana still have a chance for a podium finish through the Lower Bracket.
The Las Vegas leg promises an exciting conclusion, with the final and the podium matches set to deliver more thrilling chess action.
