R Praggnanandhaa registers stunning Victory Over Magnus Carlsen in Las Vegas Grand Slam

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Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa has delivered a remarkable performance by defeating world number one Magnus Carlsen at the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam on Wednesday (July 16).

This victory came during the fourth round of the group stage, allowing Praggnanandhaa to take the sole lead in his group and ultimately contributing to Carlsen's elimination from the tournament's round robin stage.

Playing with the white pieces, Praggnanandhaa showcased clinical precision, winning the game in 39 moves with an accuracy of 93.9%, while Carlsen managed only 84.9% - a rare occurrence for the chess legend. This win was particularly significant as the Freestyle Chess format, also known as Chess960, is renowned for its unpredictability and creativity, areas in which Carlsen has thrived as the founder of the Grand Slam Chess Tour.

Despite having previously bested Carlsen in both rapid and blitz formats and even achieving his first classical win against him at the Norway Chess tournament in 2024, Praggnanandhaa's success in Las Vegas marks another milestone in his growing reputation for defeating elite opposition across all time controls and chess variants.

Carlsen, a five-time world champion often considered the greatest player in history, struggled in the Las Vegas event, suffering consecutive losses in the group stage and ultimately finishing fifth, failing to advance past the round robin for the first time on the 2025 Grand Slam circuit. Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa's victory ensures his progression to the quarterfinals and maintains his momentum in the tournament.