Magnus Carlsen was labelled a ‘coward, arrogant, and entitled’ by American chess Grandmaster Hans Niemann over Carlsen’s attack on FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich, demanding his resignation. Dutch GM Anish Giri also shared his views, discussing Carlsen’s influence over the chess world amid the ongoing FIDE vs Freestyle Chess battle.
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American Grandmaster Hans Niemann has called world No.1 chess player Magnus Carlsen a “coward, arrogant, entitled and unaware” amid the former world champion’s ongoing fight with the International Chess Federation, FIDE. Meanwhile, Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri has said that the ongoing Freestyle Chess saga is a “testament to Carlsen’s influence” in the chess world.
Carlsen co-owned Freestyle Chess Operations and FIDE are locked in a battle
over the former’s plan to use the term “World Championship” for its upcoming Grand Slam tour. FIDE has argued that it is the “sole regulator of World Chess Championships”.
Niemann says Carlsen is a coward and arrogant
Niemann’s latest attack on Carlsen came after the 34-year-old, who co-owns the Freestyle Chess Operations, took to social media to
demand the resignation of FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich. Carlsen also accused Dvorkovich of misusing his power and coercing the players after talks between the global chess body and Freestyle Chess Operations broke down.
Reacting to Carlsen’s demand, Niemann on X wrote: “Arrogant, Entitled, Unaware, and most importantly: Cowardly. Your childish ego continues to distort reality at the expense of chess. You’ve defeated yourself off the board, only a matter of time until you face the same fate on the board.”
Arrogant, Entitled, Unaware, and most importantly: Cowardly. Your childish ego continues to distort reality at the expense of chess. You’ve defeated yourself off the board, only a matter of time until you face the same fate on the board. https://t.co/GtF0yuvq3u
— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) February 3, 2025
Carlsen in his post had revealed personal messages sent by Dvorkovich to his father in which the FIDE president promised players will not be stopped from taking part in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour despite the ongoing tussle. However, FIDE later asked the players to sign a waiver before taking part in the tour to remain eligible for the World Championship cycle.
“Coercion of players, misuse of power and broken promises. FIDE President Dvorkovich, to convince me to play the Rapid & Blitz in New York, you wrote Dec 19th to my father: ‘Just want to pass a message to you and Magnus that whatever happens between FIDE and Freestyle in terms of recognition, players will NOT be affected in any way. They can decide on their own and FIDE will not take any negative action’,” Carlsen said on X.
Coercion of players, misuse of power and broken promises.
FIDE President Dvorkovich, to convince me to play the Rapid & Blitz in New York, you wrote Dec 19th to my father:
«Just want to pass a message to you and Magnus that whatever happens between FIDE and Freestyle in terms…
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) February 3, 2025
Freestyle Chess Tour accepts FIDE’s demand
In a dramatic turn of events, FIDE on Tuesday late announced that players no longer need to sign the waiver as the Freestyle Chess Tour
has decided to delete “World Championship” from its Regulations.
Reacting to the whole saga, Dutch chess great Giri said that controversy only highlights Carslen’s influence on the chess world, while other players continue to be left in the dark.
“The entire Chess960 saga is a testament to Carlsen’s influence in the chess world and how he chooses to wield it. Everyone else is watching in sheer confusion. This is merely a ChatGPT version of my original tweet,” he wrote.
The entire Chess960 saga is a testament to Carlsen’s influence in the chess world and how he chooses to wield it.
Everyone else is watching in sheer confusion.
This is merely a ChatGPT version of my original tweet.
— Anish Giri (@anishgiri) February 4, 2025
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour, which will be played across five cities in 2025, starts with the first leg from 7-14 February in Weissenhaus, Germany.