The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Paris leg quarterfinals kick off with a thrilling clash as Arjun Erigaisi faces Hikaru Nakamura. Fans eagerly await this showdown on April 9-10, 2025. Erigaisi, India’s sole knockout qualifier, battles the world No. 2 American in a high-stakes match. Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and others vie for the $20,000 prize. The Paris event promises intense competition under Classical time controls. Erigaisi’s recent wins over Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana fuel excitement for his next challenge.
Erigaisi vs Nakamura: A Clash of Titans
Arjun Erigaisi, the 21-year-old Indian star, earned his quarter-final spot with 6.5 points in the round-robin phase. He stunned top players like Carlsen and Caruana earlier. Now, he takes on Hikaru Nakamura, who scored 6 points to qualify. Nakamura, known for his sharp tactics, aims to outmaneuver the rising Indian GM. “Beating Carlsen felt incredible,” Erigaisi said in a post-match interview on X. “I’m ready for Nakamura.” The matchup follows Freestyle Chess rules, allowing top players to pick opponents. Erigaisi chose Nakamura, setting the stage for a blockbuster duel.
The knockout time controls add pressure. Games 1 and 2 offer 90 minutes with a 30-second increment. Games 3 and 4 drop to 10 minutes with a 10-second increment. If needed, Games 5 and 6 switch to 5 minutes plus a 2-second increment, ending with an Armageddon decider. Fans can catch the action live in Paris or online via FIDE’s official streams.
Also Read: Arjun Erigaisi Freestyle Triumph Stuns Magnus Carlsen in Paris
Other Pairings and Indian Struggles
Magnus Carlsen, topping the standings with 8.5 points alongside Nepomniachtchi, faces Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Nepomniachtchi challenges Vincent Keymer, while Maxime Vachier-Lagrave meets Fabiano Caruana. However, India’s other GMs faltered. D Gukesh finished 11th with 3.5 points, missing the knockouts. Vidit Gujrathi (2 points), R Praggnanandhaa (4 points), and Richard Rapport (3.5 points) also exited early. They now compete in a separate 9-12 position playoff.
Erigaisi’s success stands out. His 6.5 points placed him fourth in the round-robin standings. Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi led with 8.5 points, followed by Vachier-Lagrave at 7. Web searches confirm Erigaisi’s form, with Chess.com noting his rating climb past 2800 in 2024. Nakamura, a streaming sensation, brings his own flair. “I love the freestyle format,” Nakamura posted on X. “Let’s see what Erigaisi’s got.”
The Paris leg, part of the 2025 Grand Slam Tour, offers a $20,000 prize for the winner. With Erigaisi vs Nakamura headlining, chess fans have plenty to cheer for. Tune in as these titans battle for supremacy.
Also Read: How Magnus Carlsen’s Freestyle Chess is Changing the Game Forever
