Erigaisi becomes Magnus Carlsen’s Kryptonite: Freestyle Chess Paris Day 1
The second leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour commenced in Paris on April 7, 2025, with an electrifying Day 1 that captivated enthusiasts at the Pavillon Chesnaie du Roy. The standout moment came in the opening round when India’s No. 2 Arjun Erigaisi delivered a stunning upset, defeating the formidable Magnus Carlsen in a Freestyle Chess encounter. Wielding the white pieces, Erigaisi showcased tactical brilliance and composure, outmaneuvering the world No. 1 in a 29-move triumph that reverberated through the chess world. Arjun has already shown his prowess in this format online, and this victory marked a bold declaration of intent from the young grandmaster.
Erigaisi’s dominance persisted into Round 2, where he dispatched Fabiano Caruana with equal precision, securing a flawless 2/2 start. Carlsen, however, demonstrated his resilience, rebounding alongside Nodirbek Abdusattorov to claim five victories in six games, placing them atop the leaderboard with 5/6. The Indian contingent displayed varied fortunes: World Champion D Gukesh endured a challenging day, conceding four losses in six outings, while R Praggnanandhaa never found his momentum either and settled with -1 (2.5/6). Vidit Gujrathi, regrettably, found himself anchored at the bottom with Richard Rapport, with a solitary point.
This 12-player round-robin rapid phase serves as the prelude to a high-stakes knockout stage, with only the top eight advancing and a princely $750,000 prize pool at stake. The unorthodox nature of Freestyle Chess is producing what it promises–randomness on the board. Erigaisi’s triumph over Carlsen has cast him as an early protagonist in this narrative, raising the question of whether he can sustain such form against the game’s elite. As the tournament unfolds, the chess world watches with bated breath, anticipating further displays of strategic mastery.
Photo courtesy: Lennart Ootes / Freestyle Chess
