2025 Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Knockout Stage Begins with Nepo Gambit Dominating Play

The 2025 Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam has entered the knockout stage, and the day was marked by the creation of a new gambit by GM Ian Nepomniachtchi. Despite not getting a chance to play it himself, the Nepo Gambit made its debut in the tournament. The top players, including Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana, tried out this new opening strategy.

In the quarterfinal matches, Magnus Carlsen secured a victory against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, while Arjun Erigaisi and Nakamura played a chaotic game with the Nepo Gambit. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Caruana had a drawn game after an intense battle.

In the consolation matches, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Richard Rapport emerged victorious, setting the stage for exciting matchups in the next round.

The tournament format includes rapid chess games followed by knockout rounds in freestyle chess. The competition is part of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, offering a multi-million dollar prize pool.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam as the top players battle it out for a spot in the semifinals.