In a shocking turn of events at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam held in Las Vegas, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen in just 39 moves. The 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster showcased his skills in Round 4 of the tournament, marking a significant moment in his career. Praggnanandhaa played with white pieces and maintained impressive control throughout the game. He achieved an accuracy rate of 93.9%, while Carlsen, who played with black pieces, struggled with an accuracy of 84.9%. The game lasted for 10 minutes with an additional 10-second increment per move.
Praggnanandhaa’s victory is particularly notable as it adds to his record of defeating Carlsen in all three major time formats: Classical, Rapid, and Blitz. After the match, Praggnanandhaa expressed his preference for the Freestyle format over the Classical one, highlighting his adaptability and confidence in various styles of play. The Freestyle Chess format, which allows players to use unconventional setups, was co-founded by Carlsen himself. This makes Praggnanandhaa’s win even more significant, as he triumphed over the tournament’s creator.
Before facing Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen had a strong start in the tournament, winning his first two games against Vincent Keymer and Levon Aronian. However, his performance declined after the third round, where he drew against Javokhir Sindarov. This was followed by his unexpected loss to Praggnanandhaa, which seemed to affect him deeply, as he went on to lose another game against American Grandmaster Wesley So.
Despite winning his final group stage match against Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva, Carlsen finished with only four points, which was not enough to secure a place in the knockout stage. He faced a playoff against Levon Aronian but suffered two consecutive defeats, marking an early exit from the tournament. This was a surprising outcome for the player often hailed as the greatest chess player of all time.
On the other hand, Praggnanandhaa’s performance earned him a spot at the top of Group White, finishing with 4.5 points. He was tied with Sindarov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov but secured the top position based on tiebreaks. This victory, along with key wins over Carlsen and other opponents, positions him as a strong contender for the championship.
Another Indian Grandmaster, Arjun Erigaisi, also progressed from Group Black, finishing third behind Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann. However, Vidit Gujrathi faced an early exit from the tournament, finishing last in his group. The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam continues to showcase the talents of young players, and Praggnanandhaa’s remarkable victory over Carlsen has made headlines globally.
As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly await to see how Praggnanandhaa will perform in the upcoming knockout rounds. His recent win not only boosts his confidence but also establishes him as a formidable opponent in the chess world. With the quarterfinals starting soon, expectations are high for this young prodigy as he aims for further success in the tournament. The chess community is excited to witness what lies ahead for Praggnanandhaa and other talented players in this innovative format of the game.