Levon Aronian Shines on the International Chess Stage: Defeats Carlsen, Nakamura, and Wins the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam
The summer of 2025 turned into a chess celebration as Levon Aronian delivered a brilliant performance at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam held in Las Vegas. The renowned Armenian grandmaster not only claimed the tournament title but also secured a $200,000 prize, defeating some of the strongest names in modern chess.
Aronian’s winning streak began with a powerful victory over Hikaru Nakamura, where he demonstrated excellent tactical awareness and innovative play. He then outplayed the young Indian prodigy Arjun Erigaisi, who had remained undefeated up until that point.
But the most notable triumph came against Magnus Carlsen, widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Aronian outmaneuvered Carlsen with deep positional play and precise time management.
In the final round, Aronian faced American Hans Niemann, and claimed victory with a convincing score, proving that Freestyle Chess perfectly suits his creative mindset.
🔹 These victories not only boosted Aronian’s international rating but also became a source of national pride for Armenia.
🔹 Once again, he confirmed his place among the brightest and most enduring stars of the chess world.
