D Gukesh Withdraws from Carlsen Rematch in Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Event Due to Exhaustion

The anticipated rematch between D Gukesh and Magnus Carlsen at the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour will not take place. The official lineup, released last Tuesday, noticeably omitted Gukesh's name, despite expectations that he would challenge Carlsen again.

Freestyle Chess co-founder and CEO Jan Henric Buettner explained the change, stating, "He said he’s exhausted and needs rest." Buettner added, "His performances have not been that good at any Grand Slam. We were always expecting that he would decline to participate in the next event."

Gukesh's Grueling Schedule Takes Its Toll

Buettner elaborated on Gukesh's initial willingness to participate in Las Vegas following the Paris event. However, the demanding Norway Chess tournament proved too taxing. "He was so exhausted that I got a message. He said he's exhausted and would like to rest. He can't come to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he needs rest. So, you know, that's understandable."

Vidit Gujrathi has been formally included in the lineup as Gukesh's replacement. "So we invited Vidit again as a replacement. So Vidit will wear the red jacket of Gukesh this time in Vegas," Buettner confirmed.

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour: What's Next?

In Freestyle Chess, players traditionally wear distinctive colored jackets.

Gukesh's withdrawal occurs as he strives for consistency on the Freestyle Chess circuit. After finishing eighth at Weissenhaus and 11th in Paris, he held 11th place overall with four FCC points. Following the Grenke Open, he slipped to 16th. Despite this, he demonstrated his skill at the Norway Chess tournament, securing third place behind Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, and defeating the top three FIDE-rated players: Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Arjun Erigaisi.

The Las Vegas event, the fourth stop on the 2025 Grand Slam Tour, marks Freestyle Chess's debut in the United States. The tournament, hosted at the Wynn Las Vegas from July 16 to 20, will feature a live audience and a prize pool of $750,000, with the winner receiving $200,000.

Indian Leg Cancelled

The Indian leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, scheduled for September 17–24 in New Delhi, has been cancelled due to a lack of sponsors. Additionally, Jan Henric Buettner will step down as CEO on July 1, with COO Thomas Harsch succeeding him in daily operations. Buettner will remain as Executive Chairman, focusing on strategic matters.