Overview

• Magnus Carlsen defeated Alireza Firouzja 3-1 in each set of a best-of-three final to clinch the inaugural $250,000 top prize.
• Hikaru Nakamura secured third place with a 3.5-2.5 victory over Arjun Erigaisi and earned $145,000.
• The chess competition made its debut in Riyadh with a $1.5 million prize fund and a rapid 10+0 format spanning group stages through knockout rounds.
• India’s Nihal Sarin advanced to the quarterfinals by upsetting Anish Giri and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, highlighting the rise of young talent.
• The event’s clock-driven, no-increment structure intensified time-management battles and underscored chess’s integration into the esports landscape.