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Freestyle chess Grand Slam Tour live: Magnus Carlsen and Nodirbek Abdusattorov were the interpreters out of competition on day 1 of Paris Leg, both ending with 5 points. Abdusattorov, who replaced the last minute of Hans Niemann, argued a strong case, while Carlsen continues to appear in good shape.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (4.5 points) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (4 points) are also in solid positions, while big names like Fabiano Caruana, Vincent Keymer and the four Indians, D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi, will be on the recovery missions

For India, Arjun Erigaisi is the best placed at 3.5 points, but Gukesh (1.5 points) and vidit (1 point) need a flawless day to keep their hopes with direct elimination. Gukesh, which is eighth in the general classification of the Grand Colem, will be particularly desperate for a turnaround after a forgetable day 1.

With the calicious points of $ 750,000 and the Grand Slam points on the line, expect stretched matches as day 2 takes place.