 "Carlsen delivers three-word verdict as Freestyle Chess responds to FIDE row: 'Strive for greatness'")
World No.1 chess player Magnus Carlsen once again took a dig at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) following Freestyle Chess co-founder Jan Henric Beuttner’s open letter to FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky. Carlsen, who is also a co-founder of Freestyle Chess, has been involved in a conflict with the FIDE ever since he and Henric founded the Freestyle Chess Players Club (FCPC) in March 2024.
The duo also announced the launch of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour which will be underway in February. FIDE and Freestyle Chess have been at loggerheads over the use of the term “World Championship” for the tournaments organised by Freestyle Chess.
The FIDE , in fact, also requested players to sign a contract that says that they would not participate in a non-FIDE World Championship.
Strive for greatness @FIDE_chess https://t.co/0h2YTY147L
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) January 28, 2025
Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour not a World Championship in ’traditional sense’
The letter from Henric, however, states that the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour is not a World Championship in the ’traditional sense’ and that it only reflects the unique format of the events. The tour will consist of five Grand Slams across different continents and players will score points on the basis of their performance in each Grand Slam.
The player with the highest points at the end will become the Freestyle Chess World Champion.
“Let me clarify once again: our tour is not a “World Championship” in the traditional sense, as I have explained to both Arkady and Vishy. It is titled the “Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour.” At the end of each year, we crown a champion in Freestyle Chess — a format that might evolve in the future, potentially moving beyond Chess960 to other new formats, but not classical chess,” he said, referring to FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich and FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand.
“The title of “world champion” in this context reflects the unique format of our events, not an attempt to challenge FIDE’s traditional World Championship cycle.
“If FIDE’s issue truly lies with the use of “World Championship” terminology, it would have to address similar cases, such as the Bughouse World Championship, where even players like Ding Liren have participated. Yet FIDE has not penalized Ding or others for taking part. This inconsistency reveals the true motive behind FIDE’s actions: money,” he added.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHe also stated in the letter that Freestyle Chess does not claim to be bigger than the FIDE.
Reacting to Beuttner’s letter, Carlsen wrote “Strive for greatness” while also tagging FIDE’s official account on X.
Emil Sutovsky, the FIDE CEO, had recently said that the sports’ governing body was ready for a war against Carlsen and Freestyle Chess if needed.
“Today FIDE is probably in the best position ever — and chess community sees it — we deliver unprecedented number of projects around the world, we keep increasing prize funds for top players and support for educational and social programs, and we can plan far ahead thanks to our partnerships East and West.
“We’d love to work with any private project – in particular with ambitious ones. But if you want a war – try us,” he added.
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