2025-07-17T10:07:00Z

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What happens when the king of freestyle chess gets dethroned in a startling twist? Magnus Carlsen, the reigning champion, found himself unexpectedly ousted at the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas. Yet, the main attraction wasn't just his defeat but a hilarious, off-the-cuff reaction from fellow chess player, Hans Niemann, that has left the internet in stitches.

The chess world was abuzz as the event kicked off with 16 participants fiercely competing in the group stage. Carlsen, who seemed invincible coming off a stellar run in Karlsruhe, shockingly fell short, winning only three out of seven games. This left him on par with Levon Aronian, resulting in a head-to-head playoff for the final spot to advance.

In a nail-biting playoff, Carlsen's fans watched in dismay as Aronian clinched victory in both 5+2 blitz games, especially seizing the win in a frantic time scramble. Meanwhile, Niemann, who had qualified for the tournament through online play-ins coinciding with his birthday, drew attention with his strategic prowess and bold moves, even as he faced losses against formidable opponents like Caruana and Nakamura.

Amidst the tension, it was Niemann's reaction after Aronian's first playoff triumph that lit up social media. His jubilant laughter and exclamation, “There are very few pleasures in life that compare to this feeling!” encapsulated the intensity of competition and added fuel to the ongoing narrative of rivalry between himself and Carlsen.

With other top players like Praggnanandhaa, Abdusattorov, and Sindarov moving ahead, this tournament is proving to be unpredictably thrilling, keeping the chess community on the edge of their seats.