International Chess Federation (FIDE) CEO Emil Sutovsky has said that Freestyle Chess has removed the term ‘World Championship’ from the Tour regulations. Freestyle Chess, however, are yet to respond to Emil’s post.
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The controversial Freestyle Chess Tour has removed the term “World Championship” from the regulations of the tournament, International Chess Federation (FIDE) CEO Emil Sutovsky said on Tuesday. “Freestyle Chess removed “World Championship” from the regulations of their Tour,” he posted on “X”, while also adding: “Hence, players can compete in the series without any restriction.” Freestyle Chess are yet to respond to Emil’s post.
Freestyle Chess removed “World Championship” from the regulations of their Tour.
Hence, players can compete in the series without any restriction.
— Emilchess (@EmilSutovsky) February 4, 2025
The FIDE vs Freestyle Chess controversy
The FIDE and Freestyle Chess, co-founded by Magnus Carlsen and Jan Henric Buettner, have been at loggerheads over the use of the term “World Championship”. In 2024, Carlsen and Buettner launched the Freestyle Chess Players’ Club (FCPC) and also announced the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, which is set to be placed across continents this year.
On Monday, the
FIDE had released a statement saying that no agreements between FIDE and Freestyle Chess had taken place
despite the reports claiming so, and stressed that a World Championship “must be inclusive, with transparent qualification pathways that follow FIDE’s rules and regulations.”
Carlsen
even accused FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich of “misusing power and coercing players” and also demanded the resignation of Arkady. “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’,” the World No 1 wrote on “X”.
“You added later that day: ‘I will step down if my word will be undermined by the Council.’ By forcing players to sign an unacceptable waiver you have reneged on your promise. Will you resign?”, he asked. FIDE had initially agreed to include the Freestyle Chess Tour as part of the 2025 calendar “out of goodwill” but changed their stance once they got to know about Freestyle Chess’s intention to use the term “World Championship”.
The controversy escalated further after legendary Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, also an FIDE deputy president, withdrew from Freestyle Chess Tour. Five legs of the tournament are scheduled to take place, with the first leg in Weissenhaus, Germany from 6 February.