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Chesstival and Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Reach Millions Around the World

by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 01/08/2025

Las Vegas hosted two exciting events this July: Chesstival and the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam. Chessival brought NBA stars together with elite chess players for matchups, while the Grand Slam featured top grandmasters competing for the title. For the first time, there was a live audience for this event and even some surprise guests joined in! The events reached millions online, with over 6.5 million live views and 1.5 million hours watched across platforms. Check out some of the best moments from the event. Photo: Freestyle Chess

Las Vegas Recap!

It's fascinating to see how chess has evolved over the years. It has broken out of its shell. It has become more creative and entertaining. If someone had told us a few years ago that top NBA stars and legendary chess players would come together… for chess, we might have laughed. But such crossovers are actually happening now. Las Vegas recently hosted two huge chess events: Chesstival and the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam.

Chess took over Las Vegas! | Photo: Freestyle Chess

Wynn Las Vegas set the stage for these unforgettable events! | Photo: Fresstyle Chess

The events were held at the luxurious Wynn Las Vegas. It seemed more like experiences rather than tournaments because there were crazy battles, surprise celebrity appearances, and an overall vibe that felt like a festival!

These surprising appearances added sparkle to the event! | Photo: Freestyle Chess

This event had a twist of NBA players pairing up with elite chess players for matches. If you are an NBA fan, you may be familiar with these names: two-time NBA Champion Rajon Rondo, Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose, Grant Williams, De’Anthony Melton, and more!

Kings of the basketball court stepped onto the 64 squares! | Photo: Freestyle Chess

You can imagine how fun and unpredictable it was when stars of two different sports came together for a battle. Their videos have already racked up millions of views online!

A new dream team? | Photo: Freestyle Chess

The buzz went way too far. | Photo: Freestyle Chess

Chess can draw a red carpet crowd! | Photo: Freestyle Chess

Chesstival 2025 Champions | Photo: Freestyle Chess

When the MVP meets the GOAT! | Photo: Freestyle Chess

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam was undoubtedly the highlight of the entire event. It was held from 16th to 20th July. The player lineup was as exciting as expected. It was the first time that fans got to watch it live! From the greatest chess minds to the most popular chess creators, everyone was under one roof. No wonder the internet could not stop watching!

Engagement on social media through owned channels. | Photo: Freestyle Chess

Engagement on social media through earned channels. | Photo: Freestyle Chess

It felt like chess "owned" the internet during this period. Chess fans were glued to their screens. The event recorded a staggering 6.5 million live views and over 1.5 million hours watched. This level of engagement just shows how fast chess is growing!

The numbers say it all! | Photo: Freestyle Chess

The reach was massive! | Photo: Freestyle Chess

The followers came pouring in! | Photo: Freestyle Chess

The 18-34 crowd is hooked on chess. | Photo: Freestyle Chess

Even the robot wanted to play Magnus. | Photo: Freestyle Chess

What happens when grandmasters gather around one board? | Photo: Freestyle Chess

Winner of Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Las Vegas, Levon Aronian, with his wife Anita and daughter, Zabelle. | Photo: Freestyle Chess

Freestyle Chess has already proven just how thrilling and creative chess can be, but these events showed that when different sports collide, the fun reaches a whole new level!

Las Vegas Grand Slam Recap. | Video: Freestyle Chess

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