Featuring Tour Leader Magnus Carlsen and Late Qualifier Hans Niemann: One-of-a-Kind Chess Event Lands in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV – June 24, 2025 – For the first time, the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour comes to the United States. From July 16 to 20, Wynn Las Vegas will host 16 of the world’s top chess players, competing for $750,000 in prize money in a format designed to reward creativity and skill. The event marks the fourth stop of the 2025 global tour. It is the first to welcome a live audience.
Freestyle Chess is based on Chess960, also known as Fischer Random. Before each game, the back-rank piece setup is randomized from 960 possible starting positions – rendering opening theory useless and putting the emphasis on original thinking and adaptability. The goal is to bring chess closer to a true spectator sport: dynamic, tense, and visually accessible.
The Players
The full field for Las Vegas is now confirmed, featuring the tour leader and world number one Magnus Carlsen (Norway), world number two Hikaru Nakamura (USA), and rising stars such as Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa R (both India). Hans Niemann (USA) secured the last spot by winning the online qualifier. The 16 participants, listed by Freestyle rating, are:
· Magnus Carlsen – 2909
· Hikaru Nakamura – 2818
· Fabiano Caruana – 2804
· Praggnanandhaa R. – 2773
· Ian Nepomniachtchi – 2771
· Vincent Keymer – 2766
· Arjun Erigaisi – 2758
· Leinier Dominguez – 2749
· Levon Aronian – 2737
· Wesley So – 2737
· Hans Niemann – 2722
· Vidit Gujarathi – 2713
· Parham Maghsoodloo – 2712
· Javokhir Sindarov – 2702
· Nodirbek Abdusattorov – 2702
· Bibisara Assaubayeva – 2506
The players are split into two eight-player round-robin groups, each playing rapid games (10 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move) on the opening day. From there, the top 4 players per group advance to the quarterfinal knockout bracket, while the bottom four qualify for the lower bracket. The two-game knockout matches will be played with a longer time control (30+30). This unique structure guarantees that every match has direct consequences.
The final will be played on July 20. In total, $750,000 will be distributed, with $200,000 for the winner.
More Than a Tournament: The Chesstival by Freestyle Chess and Derrick Rose
Just three days before the Grand Slam begins, Freestyle Chess will premiere another first: the Freestyle Chesstival, a charity event bringing together NBA stars and chess grandmasters in a light-hearted but competitive showdown.
Held on July 13, the Chesstival features a double tournament format:
• In the “Head & Hand” event, NBA players team up with top-level grandmasters, controlling the pieces on the board while taking verbal cues from their partners.
• In the NBA Blitz Championship, basketball pros compete directly against each other for the unofficial title of NBA’s Chess King.
The total Chesstival charity prize fund is $50,000. The prize money goes to charitable organisations of the winners’ choice.
Live Experience at Wynn Las Vegas
Hosted in the 50,000-square-foot Lafite Ballroom at Wynn Las Vegas, both the Grand Slam and Chesstival are open to the public. Grand Slam Tickets start at $90 and include options for VIP access and private booths with player meet-and-greets. For the first time, fans can experience Freestyle Chess as a live show – complete with arena lighting, silent commentary headsets, and immersive broadcast technology.
Freestyle Chess is backed by a $20 million investment, co-founded by Magnus Carlsen and entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner. Following previous events in Weissenhaus, Paris, and Karlsruhe, Las Vegas marks the fourth Grand Slam stop in 2025. The series will culminate in the final in Cape Town, South Africa, with the crowning of the first-ever Freestyle Chess Champion.
A press conference with Magnus Carlsen will be held on July 13 at 1:00 PM in the Lafite Ballroom at Wynn Las Vegas.
