India, April 6 -- Twelve Grandmasters, eight of the world's top 10 - they include three Indians - will ditch opening preparation and trade staid business suits for colourful velvet jackets at the Paris leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour starting on April 7.

After a forgettable outing in the year's first Freestyle Chess tournament in Weissenhaus, Germany, India's reigning world champion D Gukesh will take part in the second tournament of the series. Apart from the world No. 3, the other Indians in the field are R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi.

Vidit, world No.25, joins the event days after his wedding. Arjun qualified for the event, winning three Freestyle Fridays in a row. "In classical games, I sometimes tak...