FIDE CEO launches fresh attack on Magnus Carlsen: 'Entire PR strategy is in play'

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky hasn’t been on the best of terms with Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen lately, having accused the world No 1 of resorting to various antics to undermine the world governing body for the sport and its tournaments and trying to put the spotlight on the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour.

In his latest attack on Carlsen, Israeli GM Sutovsky slammed the five-time world champion for his attack on Indian legend Viswanathan Anand as well as chess streamers for going soft on the Norwegian and not calling him out for his antics.

“It is funny how some platforms/streamers downplay the ‘we can just keep making draws’ case. Exactly as they downplayed Magnus’ attacks on Vishy 3 days before. As it did not happen. Of course it is easier to fight me than Indian fans,” Sutovsky wrote on X.

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“Of course now they will try to shift focus or pretend it was just a joke.

“Entire PR strategy is in play," he added.

It is funny how some platforms/streamers downplay the "we can just keep making draws" case.

Exactly as they downplayed Magnus' attacks on Vishy 3 days before. As it did not happen. Of course it is easier to fight me than Indian fans.

Of course now they will try to shift focus…

— Emilchess (@EmilSutovsky) January 2, 2025

The spotlight fell on Carlsen and the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour after former world champion Vladimir Kramnik claimed he tried to “blackmail” FIDE into supporting the private league he helped found with German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner besides recognising it’s right to award a World Championship of its own.

Recent incidents involving Carlsen – from a dress code violation in the World Rapid Championship to being accused of match-fixing by sharing the Blitz title with Ian Nepomniachtchi – have also come under the scanner as a result, with some believing these incidents to be deliberate attempts at chipping away at FIDE’s credibility.

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Sutovsky, however, vowed to continue raising his voice against Carlsen and his antics and continue defending FIDE – the Lausanne-based organisation that has governed chess at a global level since 1924.

“So, first you own the part of the major platform/company, then you employ influential people on your projects, then you invite players to the Tour you own based on your judgment, and then all these quasi-independents are on your side, and you can sort of do whatever you want.

“Not quite. Social Media can’t be controlled, and it is all the rage.

“FIDE also won’t keep silent. At least I won’t – and I am there to stay for quite some time," Sutovsky, whom Carlsen had described as unreasonable in a recent interview, added in his post on the social networking platform.