Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Final: Magnus Carlsen to face Levon Aronian in title match; Arjun Erigaisi enters lower-bracket final
Former world champion Magnus Carlsen outlasted Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov to reach the title clash of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Final, where he will face USA’s Levon Aronian.
Sindarov pushed Carlsen hard, winning the second rapid game to force a blitz tiebreak, which witnessed intense time scrambles. The Norwegian won the first 5+2 game before eking out a draw in the second to confirm his progression.
“It was a complete and utter meltdown by both players. I don’t know what to say, it was just sport, I suppose,“ said Carlsen on his blitz games against Sindarov. “I guess I outlasted him more than anything else, but it feels good to be in the Final.”
In the other semifinal, Aronian outclassed German GM Vincent Keymer 2-0 in the blitz tiebreaks, after draws in the two opening rapid rounds.
Aronian will now take on Carlsen for the top spot, which will come with a prize pot of $200,000.
In the lower bracket, India’s Arjun Erigaisi bettered American GM Hans Niemann in the semifinal. Erigaisi will now face USA’s Fabiano Caruana for the fifth spot.
Published on Dec 11, 2025