Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has advanced to the knockout stage of the Paris leg of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, becoming the only Indian to do so. After 11 rounds of rapid games over two days, Arjun secured 6.5 points, placing him fourth in the standings. This performance included notable victories against top-ranked players such as Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.
In contrast, other Indian participants faced challenges. Reigning World Champion D Gukesh concluded the round-robin stage with 3.5 points, finishing 11th and missing the knockout qualification. Similarly, R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi were unable to secure spots in the top eight.
The quarterfinals are set to feature Arjun Erigaisi facing Hikaru Nakamura.
Arjun’s consistent performance in Freestyle Chess is noteworthy, having previously won three consecutive Freestyle Fridays before the Paris event.
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The Paris leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour has witnessed intense competition, with players like Ian Nepomniachtchi and Magnus Carlsen leading the standings with 8.5 points each.
Arjun’s advancement highlights his growing prominence in the international chess arena.
