The 2025 Freestyle Chess Las Vegas 2025 just got over with its exciting semi-final stage, featuring some of the world’s top grandmasters battling for a $200,000 first prize. The event started with 16 players at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, divided into two groups. After a round-robin phase and knockout rounds, four players have made it to the semi-finals.
Freestyle Chess Las Vegas 2025: An Exciting Semi-Final
The Freestyle Chess Las Vegas 2025 semi-final matchups saw Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi face off against Levon Aronian. Erigaisi had impressed everyone earlier by defeating big names like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, making him the first Indian to reach this stage in the tournament.
However, Aronian’s experience prevailed in the semi-finals. In the first game, despite Erigaisi having promising positions, he was unable to convert advantages, and Aronian held his composure to win. The second game saw Aronian needing only a draw to advance, and he maintained control as Erigaisi took risks trying to force a win, which eventually cost him the match.
The other Freestyle Chess Las Vegas 2025 semi-final saw Americans Fabiano Caruana and Hans Niemann go head-to-head. This was a tight battle, with Caruana ultimately losing to Niemann after a close 2.5-1.5 scoreline. Niemann, despite some initial setbacks, including arriving late for the first game, showcased strong middlegame skills to secure his spot in the Freestyle Chess Las Vegas 2025 final.
This stage marked the exit of many favorites, including Magnus Carlsen, who was eliminated earlier but continues to battle in the lower bracket for third place.
The Freestyle Chess Las Vegas 2025 has delivered intense games and unexpected results, setting the stage for a final showdown between Levon Aronian and Hans Niemann. Watch this space for the conclusion of one of chess’s most competitive and innovative tournaments of 2025.
Also Read: 2025 FIDE Womens World Cup: All Indians In Quarterfinals
