Levon Aronian took the $200,000 first prize at the latest leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, held in Las Vegas earlier this month. The fifth event of the tour’s debut year, scheduled for Delhi in September, has been cancelled due to a lack of sponsors, but Carlsen tops the leaderboard ahead of the final, which remains scheduled for December in Cape Town. The game below was played in the semi-final, and had as a start position: Ra1, Nb1, Kc1, Nd1, Be1, Qf1, Rg1, Bh1. Black’s setup mirrors that: Ra8, Nb8, etc.
Arjun Erigaisi-Levon Aronian
Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Las Vegas, July 2025
1 a4 d5 2 g4 c6 3 f4 g6 4 e4 dxe4 5 Bxe4 Bd7 6 Ne3 Ne6 7 c3 Na6 8 f5 gxf5 9 gxf5 Rxg1 10 Qxg1 Nec7 11 Bg3 Ne8 12 d4 Nf6 13 Nd2 O-O-O 14 Bd3 Nc7 15 a5 Qh6 16 Bxc7 Kxc7 17 Qg3+ Kc8 18 Ndc4
Erigaisi has handled the opening strongly, and now 18…Rg8 is refuted by 19 Nb6+ axb6 20 axb6, with dual threats of Ra8# and Qc7#. Aronian finds the only defence. Nd5 19 Kb1 Qg7 Another timely defensive measure. This time the tactical idea 20 Nxd5 cxd5 21 Nb6+ fails in view of axb6 22 axb6 Qxg3 23 Ra8+ Qb8. 20 Qf3 Qg1+ 21 Ka2 Qxh2 22 Nxd5 cxd5 23 Qxd5 Qc7 24 Qxf7 Bc6 Suddenly Bc6-d5 is a counter-threat. Now 25 Qe6+ Kb8 26 Qe2 maintains an edge, but Erigaisi errs. 25 Ne3 Bxd4 Sharply played. 26 cxd4 Qxa5+ 27 Kb1 Qe1+ picks up the knight. 26 Qe6+ Bd7 27 Qe4 Bc6 28 Qe6+ Bd7 29 Qe4 Bf6 Sensing the game’s momentum in his favour, Aronian declines the repetition. 30 Nd5 Qxa5+ 31 Kb1 Qc5 32 b4 Qf2 33 Ra2 Qg1+ 34 Kc2 Bc6 35 Qe6+ 35 Nxe7+ Bxe7 36 Qxe7 was still good enough for a draw, as 36…Qg2+ 37 Kb1 Qh1+ 38 Kc2 Qd5 (as in the game) is met by 39 Qe6+. This doesn’t work in the game because Aronian’s king is already on b8. Kb8 36 Nxf6 exf6 37 Qxf6 Qg2+ 38 Kb1 38 Kb3 Qd5+ 39 Bc4 Qd1+ 40 Ka3 Qa4+ 41 Kb2 Rd2+ and mate next move. Qh1+ 39 Kc2 Qd5 White resigns
Aronian had a narrow escape in the first game of the final against Hans Niemann (see below). He decided the match and the tournament with a win in the return game.
Hans Niemann-Levon Aronian
Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Las Vegas
56 Be5 Losing a crucial tempo. Instead, 56 Kb5! wins, with the subtle idea 56…e3 57 Bf4! (preparing Bf4-d2 if the e-pawn advances). Then 57…Kf5 58 a6 Bxa6+ 59 Kxa6 Kxf4 60 b7 e2 61 b8=Q+ (crucially, this is check) and with a bit of precision the queen will win against the pawns. d3 57 Bf4 Ba6 58 Kc5 Kf5 59 Bh6 Kg4 60 Kc6 Kf3 61 b7 Bxb7+ 62 Kxb7 e3 63 Bxe3 Draw agreed
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