Arjun Erigaisi's immortal floors Nepomniachtchi
Hikaru Nakamura (USA) and Magnus Carlsen (NOR) defeated their respective opponents Vincent Keymer (GER) and Fabiano Caruana (USA) to earn their place in the Finals. The reigning Fischer Random World Champion got the better of the previous leg winner, Keymer who made an incorrect exchange sacrifice. Caruana missed a tactical shot and lost a crucial pawn. The most incredible game of the day, tournament and quite possibly in Chess960/Freestyle chess was played by Arjun Erigaisi against Ian Nepomniachtchi. Arjun was in a must-win situation. Not only did he manage to win the game, he also won the next one in 10'+10". He drew the second tie-break game to setup a clash against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) for the fifth place. Finals Game 1 starts today from 1 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy
Both Arjun and Vachier-Lagrave overcome must-win situations to eliminate Nepomniachtchi and Abdusattorov
R Praggnanandhaa defeated Richard Rapport (HUN) to finish ninth.
Semifinal: Keymer - Nakamura: 0-1
Vincent Keymer (GER) sacrificed an exchange which did not pay off.
Computer recommends 22.f3 to be the best way for White to give up the exchange. The game continued 22...exf5 23.Rxd6 Bxe1 24.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25.Qxe1 Re8 and Hikaru Nakamura (USA) went on to win the game. Thus, securing his place in the Finals.
Hikaru Nakamura (USA) is the one standing tall after his Semifinal battle against Vincent Keymer (GER)
Carlsen - Caruana: 1-0
26...Nb8? was a mistake by Fabiano Caruana (USA). White played the obvious choice 27.b5 Rxc5 28.bxa6 Bxd2 29.Rxd2 Rxc4 29.Bxe5 Re6 30.Bxd6 Na6 31.Bb8 and Black could not recover for the rest of the game. Magnus Carlsen (NOR) won the Semifinals and set up a clash against Nakamura.
Fabiano Caruana (USA) - Magnus Carlsen (NOR): 0.5-0.5
5th - 8th place: Arjun - Nepomniachtchi: 2.5-0.5
Arjun Erigaisi played a Chess960 immortal against Ian Nepomniachtchi.
12.Qd8! is the beginning of what can easily be described Arjun's immortal game in the Freestyle chess. Black obviously cannot capture it due to back rank issues. So, Ian Nepomniachtchi played 12...g6 13.Qe7 h5 14.fxe5 Bc6 15.Bxe4 Bxe4 16.Rhf1 Rh7 17.Rd8 Rxd8+ 18.Qxd8+ Kg7 19.Qe7 Bf5 20.Rxf5! and White won the game in the next few moves. This win forced tie-breaks. Arjun won the first 10'+10" and drew the next to win the mini-match. He will face Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) for the fifth place match.
Vachier-Lagrave - Abdusattorov: 2.5-0.5
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) delivered the equalizer in the second Classical game against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB). They drew the first 10'+10" tie-break game and MVL won the second one. It means MVL will face Arjun Erigaisi for the fifth place battle.
9th place: Rapport - Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5
For more Semifinal 2 and 5th-9th place game photos, please click here.
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Total prize fund
US$ 750000 per Grand Slam
Format
Time: Rapid and Standard
• Round robin: Rapid 10 minutes for the game + 10 seconds per move
• Knockout stage - Game 1+2 = 90’+30’’ / Game 3+4 = 10’+10’’ / Game 5+6 = 5’+2’’ / Game 7 = Armageddon
Schedule
7th and 8th April: Round-Robin stage - Rapid
9th and 10th April: Quarterfinals - Classical
11th and 12th April: Semifinals and Playoffs for 5th to 8th - Classical
13th and 14th April: Finals - Classical
Semifinal 2 results
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal - Round 1 (2025/04/11 - 2025/04/12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Nakamura Hikaru | USA | 2804 | ½ | 1 | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Keymer Vincent | GER | 2718 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | GM | Caruana Fabiano | USA | 2776 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | GM | Carlsen Magnus | NOR | 2837 | ½ | 1 | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Final pairings
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final - Round 1 (2025/04/13 - 2025/04/14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Carlsen Magnus | NOR | 2837 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Nakamura Hikaru | USA | 2804 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th-8th place results
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal - Round 1 (2025/04/11 - 2025/04/12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Nepomniachtchi Ian | FRE | 2757 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Erigaisi Arjun | IND | 2782 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 2½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | GM | Abdusattorov Nodirbek | UZB | 2773 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | GM | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | FRA | 2722 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 2½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th place pairings
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final - Round 1 (2025/04/13 - 2025/04/14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | FRA | 2722 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Erigaisi Arjun | IND | 2782 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th place pairings
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final - Round 1 (2025/04/13 - 2025/04/14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Abdusattorov Nodirbek | UZB | 2773 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Nepomniachtchi Ian | RUS | 2757 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9th place results
| No. | Name | FED | Rtg | Game 1 | Game 2 | Pts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final - Round 1 (2025/04/11 - 2025/04/12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Rapport Richard | HUN | 2722 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Praggnanandhaa R | IND | 2758 | ½ | 1 | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
