Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour: Mixed day for Indians
Arjun Erigaisi's win against Carlsen the talking point
The first day of the Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025 witnessed six intense rounds of rapid chess, featuring 12 of the world's top Grandmasters, including four Indians, D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi.
The Paris leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour is the second in the series, following the inaugural leg in Weissenhaus, Germany. The format is unique, with games starting from randomised positions (Chess960), eliminating traditional opening theories and pushing players into uncharted territories from the very first move.
Arjun Erigaisi emerged as the best-performing Indian on Day 1, securing victories against Fabiano Caruana and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the first two rounds. He ended the day with 3.5 points, placing him in the top half of the standings. His aggressive and creative playstyle has made him a standout in the freestyle format. Arjun's victory over Carlsen was particularly impressive, as he capitalised on an early positional advantage and forced the Norwegian to resign after just 29 moves.
D Gukesh, the reigning World Champion had a challenging day, managing only one win in six rounds. His sole victory came against compatriot Arjun Erigaisi in Round 3. Gukesh also held Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to a draw but suffered four losses, including one to Magnus Carlsen. He currently sits in 10th place, making his path to the knockout stage more difficult. Despite his status as World Champion, Gukesh found the freestyle format challenging, with unorthodox starting positions testing his adaptability.
R Praggnanandhaa had a mixed day, securing two wins against Vidit Gujrathi and Ian Nepomniachtchi. However, he also faced defeats against Richard Rapport, Carlsen, and Vachier-Lagrave. He concluded the day with 2.5 points, keeping him in contention for a top-eight finish.
Vidit Gujrathi struggled on Day 1, managing only one win against Gukesh in Round 2. He missed opportunities in other games, including a close encounter with Carlsen in the opening round. With just 1 point, Vidit finds himself at the bottom of the standings alongside Richard Rapport.
Overall, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Magnus Carlsen lead the standings with 5 points each. The players will compete in five more rapid games today, after which the top eight will advance to the knockout stage. For the Indian players, especially Gukesh and Vidit, Day 2 will be crucial to keep their hopes alive.
