The much-anticipated second leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025 has been officially confirmed for April in Paris. The tournament promises an electrifying showdown as Magnus Carlsen, former world champion, is set to battle against reigning world champion D Gukesh and the ever-controversial Hans Niemann.
Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour Returns to Paris
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, spearheaded by Magnus Carlsen, is gaining momentum as it moves into its second stage. The first leg, which took place in February in Weissenhaus, Germany, saw local star Vincent Keymer emerge victorious. Now, the action shifts to Paris, where a new set of intense battles will unfold from April 7 to April 14 at the prestigious Pavillon Chesnaie du Roy.
An Expanded Lineup of Top Chess Talent
Unlike the first leg, which featured ten players, the Paris leg will see an expanded roster of 12 world-class contenders. Alongside Carlsen and Niemann, the tournament will feature an array of chess superstars, including:
- D Gukesh (World Champion)
- Arjun Erigaisi (India)
- R Praggnanandhaa (India)
- Hikaru Nakamura (USA)
- Fabiano Caruana (USA)
- Vincent Keymer (Germany)
- Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia)
- Alireza Firouzja (France)
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France)
The final 12th spot will be filled through an open online qualification tournament hosted by Chess.com.
How to Qualify for the Final Spot
Aspiring players looking to earn a place in this elite event will have the opportunity to compete in an online qualification tournament with a prize pool of $50,000. The qualification process is structured as follows:
- March 8-9: Open qualifiers on Chess.com
- March 12: Swiss-system tournament for titled players
- March 13-14: Knockout stage featuring the top four from the Swiss event, along with 12 invited members of the Freestyle Chess Players Club, competing for the final Paris seat
High Stakes: Prize Pool and Tournament Format
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour Paris leg boasts a staggering prize pool of $750,000, with $200,000 awarded to the champion. This makes it one of the most lucrative chess tournaments in recent history.
The tournament will follow a structured format:
1. Round-Robin Phase (April 7-8): All 12 players will compete in a series of matches to determine the top eight.
2. Knockout Stage (April 9-14): The top eight players from the round-robin phase will battle it out in classical time-control matches over six days, leading to a thrilling final showdown.
A Tournament Not to Be Missed
With some of the best players in the world competing for a massive prize and the prestige of winning the second leg of the Grand Slam Tour, this tournament promises intense battles, strategic brilliance, and unforgettable moments. Chess fans worldwide will be eagerly watching as Carlsen, Gukesh, Niemann, and others showcase their talents on the grand stage in Paris.
