Chess World in Turmoil: FIDE at War with Magnus Carlsen’s Freestyle Grand Slam Tour

The chess world has been thrown into turmoil as a feud between FIDE and Magnus Carlsen’s Freestyle Grand Slam Tour has escalated into a full-blown war. The conflict stems from the desire of Carlsen and his co-founder Jan Henric Buettner to establish an official Freestyle World Championship without interference from FIDE.

In a recent interview with VG, Buettner accused FIDE of demanding $500,000 for the rights to use the world championship title, prompting him to threaten legal action against the international body. He also alleged that FIDE was blackmailing players, including top stars like D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, who are part of the FCPC.

Buettner revealed that FIDE’s contract includes a clause stating that any player who competes in a world championship not approved by the organization will be excluded from the cycle for the next four years. He expressed doubt that any players would agree to such terms, calling the contract “ridiculous.”

While there has been no official confirmation from Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa on their stance, Viswanathan Anand has reportedly pulled out of the conflict. Anand, who also serves as FIDE deputy president, has faced criticism from Carlsen for his alleged failure to fulfill his role properly.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky has responded to the accusations, stating that the organization simply seeks formal recognition as the governing body of chess. The chess world waits anxiously to see how this high-stakes drama will unfold, with the future of the sport hanging in the balance.