Teenage Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa delivered one of the biggest upsets of the Freestyle Grand Slam chess event in Las Vegas, defeating world number one Magnus Carlsen to knock the Norwegian out of the tournament and secure his own place in the quarterfinals. The victory continues Pragg’s impressive form in 2025 and signals his growing presence among the elite as he adapts seamlessly across different formats on the Grand Slam circuit.
The match saw R Praggnanandhaa playing with the white pieces and taking complete control over Carlsen, using a strong, aggressive approach to dominate the game and take the outright lead in his group. With this victory, R Praggnanandhaa moved safely into the top four of his group, advancing to the championship bracket of the expanded 16-player tournament.
A Major Upset for Carlsen in Nevada
Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as the greatest chess player in history, entered the Las Vegas leg of the Grand Slam Chess Tour as the clear favourite, having already won the previous two legs in Karlsruhe and Paris and finishing third in Weissenhaus, Germany. However, his run in Nevada came to an unexpected halt after consecutive defeats against R Praggnanandhaa and Wesley So in the group stage. Carlsen’s tournament ended with a tiebreaker loss to Levon Aronian, leaving him in fifth place and out of the championship bracket.
R Praggnanandhaa’s win over Carlsen carries additional weight as it came against the founder of the Grand Slam Chess Tour, further highlighting his intent to make a statement in the tournament after a ninth-place finish in the Paris leg. The Las Vegas win is another significant addition to Pragg’s growing list of high-profile victories over Carlsen, reinforcing his ability to challenge the world’s best on any stage.
Indian Players Advance with Strong Performances
Alongside R Praggnanandhaa, India’s Arjun Erigaisi also progressed to the championship bracket from the Black Group, securing a third-place finish behind Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann. Nakamura now emerges as the tournament favourite in Carlsen’s absence, setting up a highly competitive quarterfinal stage.
R Praggnanandhaa ended the group stage with 4.5 points after seven rounds, registering additional victories over Vincent Keymer and WGM Bibisara Assaubayeva to secure his place in the top four of the White Group. His consistent and flexible approach throughout the tournament has underlined his readiness for high-pressure matches as he eyes a deep run in the knockout rounds.
While R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi carried forward Indian hopes in the tournament, Vidit Gujrathi had a challenging outing, finishing at the bottom of the Black Group and missing out on the championship bracket. The contrasting fortunes for the Indian contingent in Las Vegas add to the narrative of the evolving depth in Indian chess, with young players like R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi showcasing their readiness to challenge the global elite.
The Freestyle Grand Slam chess event in Las Vegas has become a pivotal moment for R Praggnanandhaa, offering him a platform to cement his position among the world’s best while providing Indian chess enthusiasts a new wave of optimism as the tournament heads towards its crucial knockout stages.
