Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour Kicks Off Amid Controversy: D Gukesh Weighs In

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour is set to kick off on February 7 at the Weissenhaus Resort in Wangels, Germany, amidst recent controversy surrounding the event. Freestyle Chess, which failed to receive official recognition for a world championship tournament from FIDE, sparked a social media frenzy. In response, an open letter from Freestyle Chess and World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen publicly criticized FIDE, with demands for the resignation of FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich.

To ease the controversy, Freestyle Chess removed the mention of the world championship from their rules and regulations. Despite the turmoil, reigning World Champion D Gukesh has arrived at the venue and is ready to compete.

In a recent interview, Gukesh expressed his willingness to play any format of chess but emphasized the importance of clarity in the chess world. He also shared his thoughts on the Classical World Chess Championship cycle versus Chess960 tournaments, stating that while Chess960 is an interesting experiment, classical chess remains paramount.

The tournament in Germany boasts a star-studded lineup including top players like Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Hikaru Nakamura. However, Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand withdrew from the event following Carlsen’s criticism of his position as FIDE deputy president.

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour promises exciting matches and intense competition as players navigate through the controversy and focus on showcasing their skills on the board.