Arjun Erigaisi has etched his name in chess history by becoming the first Indian to reach the semifinals of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, currently underway in Las Vegas. The 21-year-old grandmaster secured his place in the final four with a decisive 1.5-0.5 victory over world number 7, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, also known as Chess960, distinguishes itself from traditional chess by randomizing the starting positions of pieces, thereby reducing reliance on rote memorization of opening theory. This format emphasizes creativity, adaptability, and intuition – qualities that Erigaisi has demonstrated throughout the tournament.
Erigaisi's journey to the semifinals included a strong showing in the round-robin stage, where he accumulated 4 points from 7 games, with three wins and two draws against a field of top-tier players. In the quarterfinal match against Abdusattorov, Erigaisi displayed exceptional skill. He won the first rapid game and then secured a draw in the second to clinch the overall victory. In the second game, playing with the white pieces, Erigaisi gained an early advantage by winning a rook for a bishop. Despite some unforced errors in the first game, where he allowed Abdusattorov to secure a draw, Erigaisi maintained an advantage throughout the match.
However, compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa's run ended in a heartbreaking defeat to Fabiano Caruana. The Praggnanandhaa vs Caruana match was an intense, seven-game battle that lasted over 10 hours. Praggnanandhaa initially took the lead multiple times, but Caruana ultimately prevailed in the decisive seventh game. Despite the loss, Praggnanandhaa has another opportunity to continue in the tournament through the lower bracket.
Erigaisi will face Levon Aronian in the semifinal. Aronian advanced by defeating Hikaru Nakamura. The other semifinal match will feature Hans Niemann against Fabiano Caruana. In the lower bracket, Magnus Carlsen defeated India's Vidit Gujrathi. Other lower bracket match winners include Wesley So, Leinier Dominguez Perez, and Vincent Keymer.
