New Delhi: The potential peace treaty between the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the owners of the Freestyle Chess has failed. In the latest burgeoning feud between the two parties, German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner, the co-founder of the Freestyle, wrote an open letter to FIDE.
The letter demanded the resignation of FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich for not keeping up to his promise. The letter was disclosed in the public domain after World No.1 Magnus Carlsen mentioned about some of the private conversations with Arkady on his X handle. The letter includes excerpts of the chats with the FIDE president in a series of pointers.
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
An open letter from Freestyle pic.twitter.com/mL2loBBNaS
— freestyle-chess (@chess_freestyle) February 3, 2025
This intensifies the ugly battle between FIDE and Freestyle after the global governing chess body asked its counterparts to refrain from using the term ‘World Championship’ in their upcoming Grand Slam Tour, scheduled to start on February 6.
The FIDE also asked the players not to participate in any other world championship event which isn’t organised by the global chess body. The body also asked the players to sign a contract, where an obligatory clause prevents them from featuring in other World Championship events.
Carlsen, who was earlier disqualified by FIDE from World Rapid Championship for wearing jeans, was not pleased with FIDE’s imposition on players. He revealed Dvorkovich’s promise to him that players won’t be impacted regardless of the outcome of FIDE and Freestyle in terms of recognition.
In its response, FIDE issued a statement, reiterating its stance on the entitlement of World Championship, citing that there isn’t a pathway for Freestyle tournament in terms of qualification and only elite players are part of it. The global body wants to maintain the transparency of the World Championship event.
The brewing conflict between FIDE and Freestyle Chess intensified with an open letter demanding FIDE President Dvorkovich’s resignation. World Champion Magnus Carlsen revealed private conversations exposing broken promises by Dvorkovich regarding player participation. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
