 "Magnus Carlsen says he won't participate in FIDE events in future: 'As of now, it's completely out of the question'")
World No 1 chess player Magnus Carlsen has said that he won’t be competing in FIDE events and added that his focus currently remains on the ongoing Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. Carlsen, who co-founded Freestyle chess along with German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner, has been at loggerheads with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) over the use of the term “World Championship” ever since the Freestyle Chess Players’ Club (FCPC) was launched in March 2024.
At the same time, Carlsen also announced the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour , a five-legged competition across the world taking place this year. While Freestyle Chess organisers had initially intended to use the “World Championship” term for their tournament, the FIDE has strongly opposed to this, stating that only the sport’s global governing body had the authority to do so. It was only a couple of days ago when Freestyle Chess dropped the term “World Championship” from the Tour regulations.
‘As of now, completely out of the question’: Carlsen on competing in FIDE events
“FIDE has actually ‘backed out.’ What I can say now is that the relationship that my team and I have with FIDE is pretty destroyed. At least with the current administration,” Carlsen told TV2, a Norwegian TV network. The Norwegian said that at the moment, it seems that he won’t participate in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships that will take place in Doha in December this year. “As it is now, it’s completely out of the question,” added Carlsen.
Should he not compete FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in December, it will be for the first time since 2013 that the tournament will be held without Carlsen.
The 34-year-old reiterated that his focus remains on the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour and added that the issue could have been resolved earlier. Carlsen had accused FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich of “misuse of power”, “broken promises” and “coercing players”, and even called for his resignation . He also said that Arkady had promised Carlsen’s father that players would not be affected irrespective of what happens between FIDE and Freestyle Chess, but that promise was eventually broken.
“Generally unfortunate what has happened. Happy to focus now on the tournament (Freestyle Chess Grand Slam). Things could have been resolved at an earlier point. Right now it is very hard to have a relationship with any of the FIDE leadership. Speaking for myself and my father," the former world champion told ChessBase India.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
