In the unpredictable world of Freestyle Chess, an even more unpredictable lineup will be seen at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Slam 2025. This tournament is a part of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025. As anticipated, the tournament is, the spotlight is on Gukesh D as he misses the tournament after being in all previous legs of the tour.
Hans Niemann Ready To Face Magnus Carlsen
Meanwhile, a much controversial addition has been made to the tournament, being Hans Neimann, who secured a spot through Chess.com qualifiers for the Paris Grand Slam. However, he withdrew from the tournament last minute, leading to high drama. Now, he’s set to make a comeback at the prestigious event, and the world will be closely following Niemann as he battles with World Number 1 Magnus Carlsen, who recently achieved an Elo rating of 2900 in Freestyle Chess.
Las Vegas Grand Slam 2025: A Historic Moment
This Las Vegas Grand Slam 2025 will also be remembered for a historic moment as Bibisara Assaubayeva is set to become the first woman to compete in the tour.
The Las Vegas Grand Slam is scheduled for 16-20 July 2025 at Wynn Resorts. The tournament features a group stage followed by knockout rounds, with a total prize pool of $660,000 and a winner’s share among the highest of all in chess history. The player with the most points after all five legs will be crowned Freestyle Chess Champion.
Gukesh D’s Absence
Gukesh D’s absence from the Las Vegas Grand Slam 2025 has raised eyebrows across the chess community. The reigning world champion has participated in previous Grand Slam events. However, he could not claim a single win.
Although he did achieve a career milestone by defeating Magnus Carlsen in classical chess a few weeks back at the Norway Chess 2025. As of now, there is no official explanation for Gukesh D’s absence. With him now being a part of the tournament, India’s hopes rest on the shoulders of Arjun Erigiasi, Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi.
Las Vegas Grand Slam 2025: Full Lineup
- Magnus Carlsen
- Hikaru Nakamura
- Fabiano Caruana
- Hans Niemann
- Bibisara Assaubayeva
- Arjun Erigaisi
- Levon Aronian
- Wesley So
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Leinier Dominguez
- Parham Maghsoodloo
- Vincent Keymer
- Ian Nepomniachtchi
- R Praggnanandhaa
- Javokhir Sindarov
- Vidit Gujrathi
Also Read: Arjun Erigaisi Surpasses Gukesh D To Become India’s No. 1 In FIDE Rankings
