The Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour ended with the veteran Levon Aronian claiming the title with Hans Niemann and Magnus Carlsen taking second and third spots in the standings respectively. The win for Aronian was accompanied by a mega prize check of $200,000 (approximately Rs 1.7 crore). Aronian captured his first Freestyle Chess Grand Slam crown at Wynn Las Vegas after defeating Hans Niemann 1.5-0.5 in the Grand Final.
Meanwhile, Niemann, who lost to Aronian in the final, will go home $1,40,000 richer (approx Rs 1.2 crore) and Carlsen pockets $1,00,000 (approx Rs 1.2 crore) for ending third in the tournament.
So how much did the Indians make from the event?
Arjun Erigaisi, who was India’s best finisher at the Las Vegas event with a 6th place finish, pocketed over Rs 34 lakhs ($40,000) while Praggnanandhaa, who finished one spot behind Arjun, claimed Rs 25 lakhs ($30,000).
India’s Arjun Erigaisi in action against Levon Aronian at Las Vegas Freestyle Grand Slam semifinal. (Freestyle Chess/Lennart Ootes)
For context, Gukesh had pocketed Rs 11.4 crore for becoming the youngest World Champion in history.
Arjun had been the only semi-finalist from India with three other Americans for company. There, he had lost to had lost to eventual winner Aronian. Then, he lost 2-0 to Magnus Carlsen as the Norwegian charted his path to third place. Then, Arjun was defeated by Fabiano Caruana.
Praggnanandhaa finished in seventh place after a victory over Wesley So.
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“Seventh doesn’t sound well but I feel I played much better than [where] I finished at the end. At these crucial moments I didn’t show show my best I guess. I should have won yesterday. I think I should learn to make some draws because I was not making them when I needed to,” Pragg was quoted as saying by Freestyle Chess in a release.
Vidit Gujrathi, who ended joint 13th with four others, will take home $7500 (approximately Rs 6.4 lakhs).
