Levon Aronian wins Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in South Africa

Levon Aronian, former leader of the Armenian men’s chess team now competing under the US flag, won the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tournament in Grootbos, South Africa, on Thursday. 

He defeated current world number one Magnus Carlsen (Norway), 1.5–0.5 in the Grand Final, winning the first game and securing the title with a draw in the second.