Aronian Shines in Las Vegas, Wins $200,000 at Freestyle Chess Grand Slam

The chess lights sparkled bright in Las Vegas as the third leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam 2024 unfolded from July 16–20 at the luxurious Wynn Las Vegas. With a jaw-dropping $750,000 prize pool on the line, some of the world’s top grandmasters battled it out in this exciting Chess960-style format that’s shaking up the chess world.

And it was Levon Aronian, the seasoned Armenian-American GM, who rose to the top. Aronian clinched the championship title by defeating Hans Niemann in the Grand Final with a 1.5–0.5 scoreline, taking home a massive $200,000 in prize money.

Niemann & Carlsen Round Out the Podium

Hans Niemann secured second place and a $140,000 prize for his deep run, while former World Champion Magnus Carlsen finished in third, earning $100,000. Though not a title win, Carlsen’s performance once again showed his versatility—even in the unpredictable world of Freestyle Chess.

This tournament was definitely one of the most successful ones for Hans Niemann.

Hans Niemann congratulated Levon Aronian despite his loss.

Strong Showing from Indian Stars

India’s rising chess talents were also in the mix:

1. Arjun Erigaisi impressed with a 6th-place finish and earned $40,000 (approx ₹34 lakh). He was the only Indian to reach the semifinals, where he fell to Aronian and later lost to Carlsen and Caruana in placement matches.
2. Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, who secured 7th place, pocketed $30,000 (approx ₹25 lakh) after a strong win against Wesley So. Despite the result, Pragg reflected positively on his performance:

“Seventh doesn’t sound great, but I feel I played better than where I finished. I need to learn to settle for draws when needed.”

1. Vidit Gujrathi finished in a tie for 13th and received $7,500.

What’s Next for Freestyle Chess?

Freestyle Chess, with its randomized starting positions and emphasis on creativity, continues to gain momentum. This Las Vegas leg brought drama, brilliant tactics, and unexpected twists—exactly what fans are starting to love about this format.

The Grand Slam now moves toward its final stages, with anticipation building for the ultimate face-offs and leaderboard shakeups.

Stay tuned to ChessTV.com for updates, game replays, and behind-the-scenes insights from the Freestyle Chess revolution.

More to explore:

1. Why Chess Favours the Young
2. World Cup 2025 Delivers Wild Round 2
3. Why the World Cup Feels Like the Most Democratic Event in Chess