The opening day of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas delivered shockwaves to the chess world: Magnus Carlsen, the reigning king of freestyle chess and overall tour leader, suffered a stunning elimination at the group stage. But what stole the spotlight wasn’t just the result; it was Hans Niemann’s unfiltered, hilarious reaction, which has now gone viral.Watch:The drama unfolded during the group stage, where 16 players battled through seven rounds of 10+10 action split into two groups. Carlsen, who entered the event riding high after back-to-back wins and a legendary 9/9 performance in Karlsruhe, could only muster three wins while dropping two crucial games. That left him tied with Levon Aronian for fourth place in Group White, forcing a playoff for the last qualification spot.The playoff was brutal for Carlsen fans: Aronian dominated, winning both 5+2 games, the second in a wild time scramble, sending the Norwegian superstar home early.Meanwhile, Niemann, who qualified through online play-ins on his birthday just weeks ago, turned heads with his performance. After racing to 4.5/5, he finished the day at 4.5 points despite losses to Caruana and Nakamura.
His strong form, combined with confident play and creative openings, impressed commentators and fans alike. “I really immersed myself into Freestyle,” Niemann said on stream. “Six hours of training games a day.”But the moment everyone’s talking about came after Aronian’s first playoff win. Niemann, in the studio, burst out laughing and cheered loudly for Levon, exclaiming, “There are very few pleasures in life that compare to this feeling!” His raw honesty set social media ablaze within minutes, adding another layer to the Carlsen-Niemann rivalry narrative.With Praggnanandhaa, Abdusattorov, and Sindarov advancing ahead of Carlsen from their respective group, the Las Vegas leg is already shaping up as the most unpredictable event of the year.
