D Gukesh, India's teenage World Chess Champion, is noticeably absent from the Las Vegas leg of the inaugural Freestyle Grand Slam Tour despite receiving an invitation.
His compatriots R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi are currently in action at the event. Gukesh decided to skip the tournament.
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His withdrawal comes at a time when his global profile is rising, especially after his recent classical win over Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess. Gukesh played in the Freestyle Tour's Paris leg earlier this year but had a below-par outing, finishing ninth overall.
He was initially open to participating in the Las Vegas edition. Still, the intensity of his recent schedule, including a grueling campaign at Norway Chess, led him to change his mind.
Why is D Gukesh missing from Freestyle Chess in Las Vegas?
The 19-year-old has a packed calendar lined up for the second half of the year, including the prestigious Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, part of the Grand Chess Tour. Gukesh is currently ranked fifth in the tour standings and is focused on performing well there.
According to Jan Jenric Buettner, CEO and co-founder of the Freestyle Tour, Gukesh cited mental and physical fatigue as the main reason for opting out.
"He said he's exhausted and needs rest. His performances have not been that good at any Grand Slam. After Norway Chess, he said he would like to rest. So, you know, that's understandable,” Buettner said ahead of the Vegas event.
Gukesh remains interested in Freestyle chess, a variant of classical chess in which piece positions are randomized to reduce memorisation. Many (including Carlsen) see it as the future of the game.
For now though, Gukesh is focused on rest and preparation as he looks ahead to defending his world title next year.