“Indian GMs D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi to Participate in Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam”

Three of India’s top Grandmasters, D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi, have been confirmed to participate in the upcoming Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam event. This strong Indian contingent will be competing alongside world-renowned players such as Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.

Arjun Erigaisi’s participation has already been officially announced by Freestyle Chess, while there has been no official confirmation yet regarding Praggnanandhaa’s participation. Gukesh, on the other hand, has not officially confirmed his participation for the second leg of the Grand Slam.

In a statement to Hindustan Times, Freestyle Chess confirmed the participation of Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun in the Paris event. Gukesh recently competed in the first leg at Weissenhaus, where he finished in eighth position. The event was won by German GM Vincent Keymer, who defeated Caruana in the final.

The inclusion of these three Indian Grandmasters in the same event is expected to draw significant attention from fans. Gukesh currently holds the fifth position in FIDE ratings, while Arjun Erigaisi is ranked fourth. In live Elo ratings, Gukesh has surpassed Erigaisi and is currently ranked third in the world.

Praggnanandhaa, who recently won the Tata Masters by defeating Gukesh, is in good form and his participation in Paris is anticipated to generate excitement among fans. The Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam event will also feature American GM Hans Niemann, who qualified after winning the 2024 Grenke Chess Open.

The upcoming event promises to be a thrilling competition with the presence of these talented Grandmasters from India and around the world. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting chess tournament.