Levon Aronian wins Freestyle Grand Slam Tour Las Vegas, Magnus Carlsen third
Garry Kasparov once famously said that the chess world is a better place when Levon Aronian is playing well. The universally loved, gentleman of the sport defeated Hans Niemann 0.5-1.5 in the Finals to win the match and tournament. Thus, Hans secured second place. There is a reason the maestro has won the FIDE World Cup twice and no one else has managed to repeat his feat. Magnus Carlsen also won his third place match with the same score against Hikaru Nakamura. Thus, Magnus finished third on the podium. If he decides to play the World Cup later this year and defend his crown, perhaps he can have a legitimate claim to tie Aronian's record, unless someone else makes a move towards the World Cup crown. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy
Everyone needed only two games each on the final day
Levon Aronian won US$ 200000, Hans Niemann $140000 and Magnus Carlsen $100000 each respectively.
Niemann - Aronian: 0.5-1.5
Hans Niemann (USA) missed a good chance to push for a win in the first game. Levon Aronian got the better of Hans in the second game to win the Final and the tournament.
Carlsen - Nakamura: 1.5-0.5
For more photos, please click here.
Replay live stream
Total prize fund
US$ 750000 per Grand Slam
Format
• Round robin: Top four players from each group go to the Upper Bracket, bottom four to the Lower Bracket. Time control: 10' + 10"
• Knockout stage time control: Game 1+2 = 30'+30", Game 3+4 = 10'+10", Game 5+6 = 5'+2", Game 7 = Armageddon
Schedule
16th July: Round-Robin stage - Rapid
17th July: Upper and Lower bracket Quarterfinals
18th July: Upper Bracket Semifinals and Lower Bracket Intermediate Match Red
19th July: Lower Bracket Intermediate Green & Semifinals
20th July: Upper & Lower Bracket Finals
Final standings 1st - 2nd
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final - Round 1 (2025/07/20) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Niemann Hans Moke | USA | 2722 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Aronian Levon | USA | 2737 | ½ | 1 | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd - 4th place results
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final - Round 1 (2025/07/20) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | GM | Carlsen Magnus | NOR | 2909 | ½ | 1 | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | GM | Nakamura Hikaru | USA | 2818 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th - 6th place results
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final - Round 1 (2025/07/20) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Erigaisi Arjun | IND | 2758 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Caruana Fabiano | USA | 2804 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th - 8th place results
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final - Round 1 (2025/07/20) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | So Wesley | USA | 2737 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Praggnanandhaa R | IND | 2773 | ½ | 1 | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
