Praggnanandhaa Upsets Carlsen at Las Vegas Chess960

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated world number one Magnus Carlsen in the group stage of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas, marking a rare achievement across all major chess formats. Praggnanandhaa's win contributed to Carlsen's elimination from title contention after further losses to Wesley So and Levon Aronian, leaving Carlsen able to finish no higher than third in Las Vegas. Praggnanandhaa and fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi both advanced to the quarterfinals, highlighting India's growing presence in top-level chess. The event, which has a $750,000 prize fund and uses the Chess960 format with randomized starting positions, also saw strong performances from Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann. The tournament features the top four players from each group advancing to knockout rounds. The competition's innovative format and dramatic upsets underscore the unpredictable and evolving landscape of elite chess.