Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Opens Amid Tensions Between Organizers and FIDE

The inaugural event in Germany sees top players compete under the shadow of a dispute over tournament recognition and controversial remarks by a co-owner.

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour began in Weissenhaus, Germany, featuring top players like Magnus Carlsen, D Gukesh, and Fabiano Caruana.
A dispute between Freestyle Chess organizers and FIDE centers on the use of 'World Championship' branding, which FIDE opposes, asserting its authority over such titles.
Freestyle Chess co-owner Jan Henric Buettner sparked backlash after making an offensive comparison while criticizing FIDE's handling of player agreements.
FIDE denies accusations of pressuring players to avoid the Freestyle event, emphasizing its focus on maintaining authority over official championships.
Viswanathan Anand withdrew from the tournament, with speculation linking his decision to his role as FIDE deputy president and Magnus Carlsen's criticism.