Praggnanandhaa Stuns Magnus Carlsen in 39 Moves at Freestyle Chess

Teenage Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa delivered a powerful statement at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas by defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in Round 4 on Wednesday. In what is being hailed as a career-defining performance, the 19-year-old outplayed the five-time world champion in just 39 moves, showcasing remarkable accuracy and composure. Playing with the white pieces in the innovative Freestyle (Chess960) format, Praggnanandhaa maintained a striking 93.9% accuracy rate, compared to Carlsen’s unusually low 84.9%. The game, played with a 10-minute + 10-second increment time control, was controlled from start to finish by the young Indian, who has now beaten Carlsen in all three formats—Classical, Rapid, and Blitz.

Praggnanandhaa’s victory was especially significant given the symbolic setting. The Las Vegas Grand Slam is a tournament co-founded by Carlsen and is centered around the Chess960 format, designed to break conventional opening preparations. The Indian prodigy's ability to defeat the tournament’s creator on his own terms marked a powerful shift in chess’s generational dynamics. “I like Freestyle more than Classical right now,” Praggnanandhaa said after the match, exuding calm confidence.

Carlsen’s performance in Las Vegas started strong with wins over Vincent Keymer and Levon Aronian but took a turn for the worse midway through the group stage. Following a draw with Javokhir Sindarov, the loss to Praggnanandhaa marked the beginning of a downward spiral. He then lost to Wesley So and drew with Nodirbek Abdusattorov before narrowly beating Bibisara Assaubayeva in the final round. With only four points, Carlsen was forced into a playoff with Aronian for the last knockout spot from Group White. In a surprising outcome, Carlsen lost both games and crashed out before the quarterfinals—an unusually early exit for the world’s top-rated player.

India experienced mixed fortunes in the tournament. Praggnanandhaa topped Group White with 4.5 points, tied with Sindarov and Abdusattorov but leading on tiebreaks. His wins over Carlsen, Keymer, and Assaubayeva, combined with draws against So and Sindarov, secured his place in the championship bracket. Meanwhile, fellow Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi also advanced from Group Black, finishing behind Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann. However, Vidit Gujrathi exited the event early, finishing at the bottom of his group. With Carlsen eliminated and Praggnanandhaa surging ahead, the spotlight now shifts to the young Indian’s bid for the Freestyle Chess title.