Jan 21, 2025 · The ongoing dispute between FIDE and the Freestyle Chess Players Club (FCPC), intensified on Tuesday when the world-governing chess body issued a stern warning to the organization, run by German businessman Jan Henric Buettner and co-founded by GM Magnus Carlsen. The FCPC invites players with a classical rating above 2725.

5 days ago · The conflict between FIDE and Freestyle Chess, which has five high-level Chess960/Fischer-Random tournaments scheduled in 2025, is heating up. On Tuesday, the chess world governing body released a statement threatening legal action if the tour planned to crown a 'world champion' without FIDE's approval.

22 hours ago · The Freestyle Chess organisers offered to pay offered to pay FIDE $100,000 “as a gesture of goodwill and to avoid harassment”, but the FIDE even demanded $500,000. The controversy erupted even further after FIDE deputy president and legendary grandmaster Viswanathan Anand quit the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour .

1 day ago · The prospect of ‘war’ that was looming over the world of chess seems to be easing up as the organisers of Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour and FIDE are close to an amicable agreement, The Indian Express can reveal. After two months of uncertainty in the sport punctuated by open letters and allegations against each other, a ceasefire appears likely.

The dispute between FIDE and Freestyle Chess continues. After Jan Henric Buettner attacked FIDE in an interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Buettner has now published an open letter to FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky. In this letter he addresses the development of the conflict, and concludes by saying: "Freestyle seeks peace, not conflict. We are still willing to contribute $50,000 annually to ...

5 days ago · The tour is called the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam. However, the winner is to be the "Freestyle Chess World Champion". According to Buettner, FIDE demanded a "fee" of $500,000 for this title and for the inclusion of the Freestyle Chess tournament dates in the FIDE tournament calendar. Freestyle Chess was willing to pay $100,000 to sponsor FIDE ...

5 days ago · The FIDE had recently added the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour to their official calendar, but said that it was done so only as a gesture of “goodwill”. However, at the same time, the FCPC’s attempts at terming the Grand Slam as a World Championship took a hit after the FIDE said that the Freestyle chess body could not host an alternate ...

Jan 25, 2025 · Freestyle chess is a variant of chess that was popularised by the legendary Bobby Fischer way back in 1996. It’s chess with a twist. In regular chess, positions of chess pieces on the back ranks are fixed: the rooks are stationed on the corners, the knights start on the b and g files, the bishops on the c and f files.

Jan 21, 2025 · However, the attempts by FCPC to present their project as a World Championship are in contradiction with the well-established status of FIDE and its authority over world championship titles in all relevant variations of chess - including Chess960/Freestyle chess, as outlined in the FIDE Handbook.

Dec 24, 2024 · Unlike the PCA, Freestyle Chess is not merely a rebellion against FIDE; it is a reinvention of the chess experience. Its Formula 1-like model—glitzy events in diverse locations, high production values, and a focus on fan engagement—could position it as a complementary rather than competing force.