With this victory, Niemann secured his return to elite competition on American soil. “Honestly, it couldn’t have been written any better,” Niemann said afterward. “It feels like a script – but sometimes my life does feel like that.”

The road to the final was unforgiving, featuring a nine-round Swiss event followed by four knockout rounds with 16 top-tier competitors. Only the winner would advance to Las Vegas. Niemann entered the knockout stage alongside world-class players such as former world champion Ding Liren.

The initial Swiss stage saw the participants vying for just four spots in the knockout. German grandmaster Rasmus Svane set the pace, winning the Swiss stage, while Lazavik became second. They were joined by M Pranesh and Martyn Kravtsiv. Many prominent chess protagonists including Peter Svidler or Rapid World Champion Volodar Murzin missed the cut.

In the knockout phase, Niemann first faced Rasmus Svane. He advanced without too much difficulty, before meeting Ding, one of the toughest opponents imaginable. Ding seemed to be outplaying Niemann in the first game, but Niemann turned the tables in time trouble. A draw in the second game was enough for him to proceed to the semis.

Meanwhile, Lazavik impressed by knocking out Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in tiebreaks, then defeating Liem Le and Vladimir Fedoseev 1.5–0.5. Notably, Fedoseev had won the qualifier for the Weissenhaus Freestyle Grand Slam in February. Lazavik’s resourceful play against the 960 specialist indicated he would be a formidable final opponent for the American.

Niemann’s semifinal clash against Yu Yangyi was a critical test. After clearly losing the first game, Niemann was under immense pressure to recover. “That second game against Yu Yangyi was so important,” Niemann reflected. Initially unhappy with his opening, Niemann tried an unorthodox rook lift that eventually won material and turned the match around. He won the second game and continued his momentum, sweeping both blitz tiebreakers convincingly.

His study of Yu Yangyi’s previous games before their semifinal match had paid dividends. “In Freestyle, you can’t prepare openings, but you can study patterns, tendencies,” Niemann explained.

For the spectators, the final match between Niemann and Lavazik couldn’t have been more gripping; for the players’ nerves, more draining. The match reached the Armageddon tiebreak, chess’s ultimate pressure-cooker: White has extra time but must win; Black, with less time, only needs a draw. Niemann, confident under low-time conditions, bid aggressively for the Black pieces, securing them with just three minutes and 55 seconds against Lazavik’s five minutes.

“I was really confident,” Niemann stated. “I had studied Denis’ previous games – he’s a conservative player, and I knew I’d be comfortable as Black with lower time. Low time is my comfort zone – I’ve shown that in Title Tuesdays and blitz tournaments.”

The Armageddon game turned intense quickly. Lazavik pressed, seeking decisive complications, but Niemann maintained his composure. The pivotal moments occurred deep into time pressure, where Niemann navigated the complexities with remarkable clarity. Eventually, he neutralized Lazavik’s threats and simplified to an equal position, guaranteeing him a draw and the match victory.

Reflecting on his qualification, Niemann emphasized the difficulty of the format and the toll it had taken. “This was brutal. Every match mattered. Two games per match, one mistake, and it’s over. I don’t even know how I’ll celebrate my birthday – I might just cancel everything and sleep.”

The win represents a return to high-level competition for Niemann, who had missed the previous Freestyle event in Paris due to personal reasons, which he continues not to disclose. “I really wanted to play in Paris – maybe more than anyone,” Niemann admitted. “But I wasn’t there, and that’s unfortunate. I’m a huge fan of Freestyle and hope to play all events moving forward.”

For Niemann, competing in Las Vegas holds additional personal meaning. “I’ve barely played chess in the U.S. lately,” he remarked. “I’ve traveled to Moscow and India multiple times, which is exhausting. Playing in America, in Vegas – it’s nostalgic. I played tournaments there as a child.”

Asked about his Grand Slam approach, Niemann indicated a preference for solo work rather than team analysis in the minutes after the starting position is revealed. Known for doing things his own way, Niemann embraces the lone-wolf role. “I noticed that when players analyze together, they often repeat the same mistakes. I trust my own preparation more,” he explained. And added: “If I had to choose someone, it would be my best friend Hikaru.”It was an ironic aside delivered with a calm smile.

Niemann expressed deep satisfaction with the format itself. “Matches are the most meritocratic system,” he argued. “The Vegas format, 30 minutes with a 30-second increment, reduces randomness. It usually rewards the stronger player, and I’m looking forward to it.”

“Today, my chess spoke for itself,” Niemann concluded confidently. “In Vegas, I plan to do the same.”