Co-organized with Freestyle Chess investor and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose, Chesstival is an innovative pro-am tournament
The Freestyle Chess Online Qualifier enters its decisive phase
One Last Chance to Join the Stars in Las Vegas
Vachier-Lagrave, Ding, Niemann and other super grandmasters fight for the final ticket to the $750,000 Grand Slam at the Wynn
The online qualifier for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Las Vegas starts on Wednesday. It’s the final chance to join the prestigious event. After two open tournaments last weekend, the field is set for the main Play-In phase. On June 18, the Swiss stage begins, followed by a knockout among the top four players emerging from the Swiss and twelve members of the Freestyle Chess Players Club. Only one of these 16 will qualify for Las Vegas.
Who will make it to Vegas to join the superstars of chess?
Twelve of the sixteen knockout participants are already confirmed:
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
- Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
- Vladimir Fedoseev
- Hans Niemann
- Liem Le Quang
- Ding Liren
- Jan-Krzysztof Duda
- Vidit Gujarathi
- Yu Yangyi
- Andrey Esipenko
- Alexey Sarana
- Alexander Grischuk
All are members of the Freestyle Chess Players Club. All are fighting for the last open spot in a $750,000 tournament.
The Play-In continues this week on Chess.com with a nine-round Swiss (10+2) starting Wednesday, June 18. The top four finishers advance to a knockout stage with 15+3 time control. The winner qualifies for Las Vegas where 15 of the world’s top grandmasters will be waiting.
The Las Vegas Grand Slam, held July 16–20 at Wynn Las Vegas, will be another extremely strong event. Among the confirmed participants are Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Arjun Erigaisi, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Leinier Dominguez, and Parham Maghsoodloo. It is the first Freestyle tournament on American soil, the first with spectators, and the fourth leg of the $4 million global tour.
Just three days before the Grand Slam begins, the same venue will host Chesstival, a one-day charity event founded by Derrick Rose and Magnus Carlsen. NBA players will team up with chess grandmasters in a knockout competition using the Head & Hand format, playing for a $50,000 prize fund supporting chess education and prison programs.
But first: twelve elite players, one open path, and a single remaining seat. The Freestyle Play-In continues.
