FIDE threatens legal action against Magnus Carlsen’s Freestyle Chess Players Club

The ongoing feud between the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Magnus Carlsen has reached a boiling point as FIDE has threatened legal action against the Freestyle Chess Players Club, co-owned by the Norwegian chess legend.

The tension stems from the upcoming Freestyle Chess World Championship, set to begin next month in Germany with subsequent legs in Paris, New York, Delhi, and Cape Town. FIDE has issued a warning to the FCPC, cautioning them against branding the series as a ‘World Championship’.

In a statement, FIDE expressed that the FCPC’s attempts to present their project as a World Championship contradict FIDE’s authority over world championship titles in all variations of chess, including Chess960/Freestyle chess.

Chess960, a variant created by Bobby Fischer in 1996, has been gaining popularity, particularly after a successful invitational tournament held last year at the Weissenhaus Luxury Resort. In Chess960/Freestyle chess, the pieces on the back rank are reshuffled, eliminating computer-backed preparations and adding excitement to the game.

While FIDE has organized world championships in recent years, including rapid time control events, last year’s edition was canceled. Carlsen, a five-time classical chess world champion, was disqualified from the rapid world championship in New York over an attire dispute but bounced back to win the blitz title.

FIDE has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the FCPC but emphasized the importance of respecting FIDE’s governing role and authority over world championships. They have demanded that the Freestyle series refrain from claiming the status of a ‘World Championship’ and have threatened legal action against any violations of their rights.

As the chess world watches the drama unfold between FIDE and the FCPC, the future of the Freestyle Chess World Championship hangs in the balance. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.