Grandmasters gear up for Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Paris starting April 7

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour is set to kick off in Paris on April 7, with twelve Grandmasters, including eight of the world’s top 10 players, ready to ditch traditional opening preparation for a more colorful and exciting approach. Among them are three Indian players, including reigning world champion D Gukesh.

After a disappointing performance in the first tournament in Germany, Gukesh is looking to bounce back in the Paris leg of the series. He will be joined by fellow Indian players R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Vidit Gujrathi. Vidit, who recently tied the knot, is eager to compete after his wedding celebrations.

The tournament will feature Freestyle Chess, also known as Chess 960, which involves randomized starting positions to create more dynamic and unpredictable games. The players will compete in round-robin matches before moving on to classical time control knockouts, with the final set to take place on April 14.

However, the event has not been without controversy, as a showdown with the world chess governing body, Fide, has caused tensions. Despite this, the tournament promises an exciting showdown with a hefty prize pool of $200,000 up for grabs.

In a surprising turn of events, American player Hans Niemann has pulled out of the tournament, leading to a last-minute replacement by Uzbek player Nodirbek Abdusattarov. The withdrawal means that a highly anticipated faceoff between Niemann and world No.1 Magnus Carlsen will not take place.

The star-studded lineup for the event includes Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and other top players from around the world. With such a strong field, the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable competition for chess fans worldwide.