New Delhi: Freestyle chess or regular chess – which variant of the board game is more difficult to play and more interesting to watch, is a question which will have multiple answers. While all associated with the mind game are aware of how the regular chess looks like but very few would have a clue of the freestyle chess variant, which came into existence a much later.
It was the year 1996, when Fischer random chess – the name attributed to the 11th world champion Bobby Fischer, became popular. It was chess player Fischer who helped in popularising the format of the game that has chess pieces randomly set up at the beginning of the game instead of the regular chess that witnesses a fixed alignment of forces on both.
2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour kicks off
Also known as Chess960, the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour started at a private luxury resort in Germany’s Weissenhaus. The event, which will see the participation of the likes of world champion D Gukesh and Magnus Carslen among others, has a different side to it, giving it a twist and making it more interesting for the participants.
As reported by the Indian Express, from heart rate sensors to confession booths to colourful jackets and neat shirts, the variant has boasts it all. Let’s take a detailed look.
Heart-rate sensors, headphones
All the players featuring in the Freestyle Tour will have heart-rate sensors which helps in monitoring their cardiac activity while they are playing. The heart rate of the players is not displayed on the screen during the entire game but its shown on the broadcast enhance then excitement of the game. On some previous occasions as well, there have been made efforts to try the sensors in chess. Additionally, players will also have the option to the noise cancelling equipment during the match which will allow them to minimise the outside noise created by the audience, which sits close to the players.
Confession booth
The introduction of a confession booth is an interesting advancement that has entered the world of freestyle chess. In the event, there will be a confession booth where players will have to give a brief statement on the game so far on camera. This has been urged by the organisers and is part of their regulations.
Neat shirts, colourful jackets
A special and neat dress code enhances the entire look and feel of the freestyle chess event. Wearing a neat shirt and formal jacket to be provided by the organiser is mandatory and shoes along with long trousers completes the smart look of a player and matches the upper body clothes. Any sort of headgear is not at all allowed as per the guidelines of the freestyle event. In addition, all the participants have been provided unique, bright jackets that they need to wear in every game.
Format, prize money
As far as the format is concerned, the players would be competing in two-day-long round-robin action, with five rounds lined up for Saturday and Sunday each. At the end of the rounds, all players will have played the other participants once and the standings will determine the seedings for the event. The top eight players after these rounds will then take part in the quarterfinals and the remaining two players will be eliminated.
The eliminated players will have to perform commentary tasks which mandatory to get the entire prize money and not face a cut of 50 per cent. The prize money for each Grand Slam event in 2025 is roughly Rs 6.5 crore. Out of the total amount, the winner will receive approximately 1.7 crore while the second-placed player will get Rs 1.2 crore.
The 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, which features participants like world champ D Gukesh and Magnus Carlsen began at a private luxury resort in Germany’s Weissenhaus on Friday. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
