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World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen drops three-word bombshell on FIDE after Freestyle Chess open letter

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen drops three-word bombshell on FIDE after Freestyle Chess open letter

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Jan 29, 2025, 21:33 IST

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Magnus Carlsen criticised FIDE after co-founding Freestyle Chess Players Club with Jan Henric Beuttner, which led to a dispute over the term "World Championship". Carlsen supports Beuttner's stance that their new tour shouldn't replace traditional championships but should have its unique format. FIDE warned of potential conflict but expressed openness to collaboration.

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen drops three-word bombshell on FIDE after Freestyle Chess open letter

Magnus Carlsen (Photo Credit: @FIDE_chess on X)

NEW DELHI: World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen recently expressed criticism towards the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in response to an open letter from Jan Henric Beuttner, co-founder of Freestyle Chess, to FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky.
Carlsen supported Beuttner's stance with a brief message encouraging greatness, directly tagging FIDE on social media.

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Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Carlsen gave a three-word verdict, noting, "Strive for greatness @FIDE_chess"

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The dispute stems from the establishment of the Freestyle Chess Players Club (FCPC) by Carlsen and Beuttner in March 2024 and the subsequent announcement of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour set to begin in February.

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FIDE and Freestyle Chess have clashed over the designation of the term "World Championship" for Freestyle Chess events.
FIDE has sought to restrict the use of the term by requesting players to agree not to participate in non-FIDE sanctioned World Championships.
Beuttner's letter clarified that the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour does not aim to replace the traditional World Championship but offers a unique format, culminating in the crowning of a Freestyle Chess World Champion based on performances across five Grand Slam events worldwide.
Buettner also addressed the inconsistency in FIDE's stance, citing participation in events like the Bughouse World Championship by top players without repercussions, suggesting financial motives behind FIDE's actions.
Sutovsky has stated FIDE's openness to collaboration with private projects but warned of readiness for conflict if necessary. "We’d love to work with any private project – in particular with ambitious ones. But if you want a war – try us," Sutovsky recently stated.
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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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