 "World champion D Gukesh opens up on FIDE vs Freestyle Chess controversy: 'Don't see it taking over...'")
World chess champion D Gukesh is currently competing in the much talked-about Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour which kickstarted in Weissenhaus, Germany on Friday (7 February). The tournament has been marred by controversies of their fight with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) over the use of the term “world championship”.
Speaking on the FIDE vs Freestyle Chess controversy, Gukesh said that he was just happy to be playing chess irrespective of the format and time control.
“I’m just here. I am happy to play any format, any time control. I am just trying to do my best in every game. For me, it is just that I am trying to give my best in chess and nothing else really matters. So, I just hope there is more clarity in the chess world and everything goes well, but none of it really matters, I just want to play chess," he told ChessBase India.
‘Don’t think Ches960 will take over classical chess’: Gukesh
The teenager was later asked about the comparisons between classical chess and Chess960. Gukesh said that while he is happy to experiment Chess960, he doesn’t feel that the format will take over classical chess.
“I think 960 is nice as an experiment, but I don’t see it taking over classical chess. The Classical World Chess Championship cycle will be much more important than 960, so I am glad to experiment with the 960," said Gukesh, who defeated China's Ding Liren to win the 2024 World Chess Championship in Singapore last December.
While Freestyle Chess, co-founded by World No 1 Magnus Carlsen last year, had intended to use the “World Championship” term for it’s event, the FIDE opposed to this saying that only they have the rights to use the term. This led to Freestyle Chess writing an open letter criticising FIDE while Carlsen and FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky traded blows publicly.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsCarlsen even accused FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich of “broken promises, coercing players misuse of power” and even demanded his resignation. Carlsen had even said during an interview on the Take Take Take app that younger players wished to participate in the Freestyle Chess Tour.
However, the players were confused as they needed to sign a waiver with FIDE or else they will not be allowed to compete in FIDE world championships.
The top 10 players, including Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura are competing in the Germany leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. Gukesh ended the first day winless and is tied on two points with Carlsen and Nakamura.
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