Teenage Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa made global headlines with a commanding victory over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas, marking a major milestone in his young but already glittering career. The 19-year-old defeated Carlsen in just 39 moves during Round 4, delivering one of the most convincing performances seen against the five-time world champion in recent memory.
A Career-Defining Victory
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Playing white, Praggnanandhaa showed complete control throughout the game, achieving an accuracy rate of 93.9%, while Carlsen lagged at 84.9%—an unusually low figure for the Norwegian.
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The match was held in the Freestyle Chess (Chess960) format with a 10+10 time control, which adds an extra layer of unpredictability to traditional chess by randomizing piece placement.
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This win means Praggnanandhaa has now beaten Carlsen in all major time formats: Classical, Rapid, and Blitz—a rare feat shared by very few in history.
Symbolic and Psychological Edge
Adding to the symbolic weight of the victory is the fact that this Las Vegas Grand Slam was co-founded by Carlsen himself, designed to push creative boundaries through the Freestyle format. That Praggnanandhaa defeated the creator of the tournament in his own innovation only deepens the impact of this performance.
In his post-game comments, Praggnanandhaa expressed a growing preference for this format:
“I like Freestyle more than Classical right now,”underscoring both his comfort with unorthodox play and the confidence he carries against top-tier opponents.
Carlsen's Shocking Exit
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Carlsen began the event strong with wins over Vincent Keymer and Levon Aronian, but his campaign began unraveling in Round 3 with a draw against Javokhir Sindarov.
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The Round 4 loss to Praggnanandhaa appeared to derail his momentum completely. He went on to lose to Wesley So and drew with Nodirbek Abdusattorov in Round 6.
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Although he ended with a win over Bibisara Assaubayeva, it wasn’t enough. He was forced into a playoff against Aronian and shockingly lost both games, finishing fifth and failing to reach the quarterfinals—a rare early exit for the GOAT.
India’s Mixed Fortunes
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Praggnanandhaa topped Group White with 4.5 points, tied with Sindarov and Abdusattorov but ahead on tiebreaks, thanks to key wins over Carlsen, Keymer, and Assaubayeva.
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Arjun Erigaisi also impressed by advancing from Group Black, placing third behind Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann.
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Vidit Gujrathi, however, faced a disappointing campaign, finishing last in the same group.
The Bigger Picture
Praggnanandhaa’s triumph against Carlsen is not just a personal achievement but also represents the continued rise of India’s young chess generation, which has increasingly become a thorn in the side of top players worldwide. With this win, Praggnanandhaa:
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Reasserts himself as one of Carlsen’s most formidable challengers.
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Showcases India’s growing dominance on the world stage in every chess format.
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Positions himself as a strong contender for future World Championship cycles.
His evolving game, mental poise, and willingness to thrive in unpredictable formats like Freestyle Chess are reshaping what the next generation of elite chess will look like.
