In the semi-final match against world number three Fabiano Caruana on July 19, Niemann drew both 30-minute rapid games. The two players then entered a 10-minute tie-break. After drawing the first tie-break game, Niemann, playing black in the second, gained a significant advantage from the opening.
For the last 30 moves, the 22-year-old player made his moves after only a few seconds of thought each time. He maintained his advantage to win after 49 moves. Niemann ultimately defeated Caruana 2.5-1.5 to advance to the final.
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Hans Niemann during his quarter-final victory against Javokhir Sindarov at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, Nevada, USA, on 17/7/2025. Photo: Freestyle Chess/Lennart Ootes |
In the other semi-final, veteran Levon Aronian continued to surprise by winning both 30-minute rapid games against Arjun Erigaisi. Since the beginning of the tournament, the 42-year-old has blocked the championship paths of Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and now Erigaisi, all top 5 players in the world.
Niemann will face Aronian in the final, beginning at 1:20 AM on Monday, July 21.
Caruana and Erigaisi will move to the lower bracket, awaiting their next opponents. The lower bracket also includes Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Wesley So, and Carlsen. The highest position Carlsen can achieve in the tournament is third, and he needs to win three more matches to do so.
Niemann expressed his joy at finally having a tournament where he outshone Carlsen and Nakamura. Both grandmasters had previously suspected him of cheating. The world number 18 player then decided to sue both of them and won the case, as Carlsen and Nakamura could not provide evidence of the 2003-born player cheating. "I don't need an apology. I'll respond on the board, nothing else," Niemann wrote on his social media after defeating Caruana.
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam is a Chess960 system with multiple tournaments each year. The prize for the champion in Las Vegas is 200,000 USD, while the total prize fund for the tournament is 750,000 USD.
Xuan Binh
