Freestyle Chess Players With FIDE Pushback, Establish New Title And Association

The winner of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour will be crowned the "Freestyle Chess Champion," 12 members of the Freestyle Chess Players Club (FCPC) decided in a meeting on Sunday evening. They also plan to form an independent players' association to safeguard their interests.

The decision was reached during the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Weissenhaus, according to a press release by Freestyle Chess on Monday.

The FCPC, composed of grandmasters rated above 2725 eligible for participation in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, said the decision to instead crown a "Freestyle Chess Champion" and temporarily avoid using "World" was made unanimously. The aim is to counter the International Chess Federation's (FIDE) claims of ownership of regulatory powers to organize official "world championships."

"This was never our intention, as we have always called our events' G.O.A.T. Challenge' or 'Grand Slam,'" said co-founder of Freestyle Chess Jan Henric Buettner in the statement. "It's important to note that this decision was made by the players, not by Freestyle—and certainly not by FIDE."

It’s important to note that this decision was made by the players, not by Freestyle—and certainly not by FIDE.

—Jan Henric Buettner

The statement marks a direct response to the conflict with the world governing chess body over the use of the "world champion" title. FIDE demanded that players involved with the Grand Slam abstain from competing in non-FIDE tournaments that crown a "World Champion." Those who refused to sign the contract would be banned from the next FIDE World Championship cycle.

FIDE's legal directive came with a February 3 deadline—immediately after the Tata Steel Chess in Wijk aan Zee—when many leading players were focused on the tournament. Buettner argued that players, many of whom were still teenagers, would not have sufficient time to review the contracts properly.

"These repeated harassments are outrageous," said Buettner. "We strongly oppose FIDE's coercive tactics, which pressure players to forgo their right to choose which events to play. "

We strongly oppose FIDE’s coercive tactics, which pressure players to forgo their right to choose which events to play.

—Jan Henric Buettner

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky told Hindustan Times that World Champion GM Gukesh Dommaraju signed the waiver contract before the deadline. GM Wesley So previously revealed that he also signed it. 

However, in an inteview with TakeTakeTake, GMs Fabiano Caruana, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja, and Levon Aronian confirmed they did not sign the waiver contract. GM Hikaru Nakamura has previously said he would not sign it, while GM Magnus Carlsen recently expressed unwillingness to play in future FIDE events under the current administration.

While the "world champion" title is dropped for the 2025 season, Freestyle Chess said they will review the title by the end of the season to decide whether to use it for 2026.

Another outcome of Sunday's roundtable in Weissenhaus was the players' plan to establish an independent association representing top chess players, staffed with a qualified legal team. "We were ready to take all necessary action to defend the freedom of the players," Buettner said.

FIDE Responds: 'Always Open To Dialogue'

In response to the statement, FIDE's Legal Director Aleksandr Martynov told Chess.com that it has no objections to the chosen name of the winner of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam. He noted that FIDE collaborated with player associations before, such as the Association of Chess Professionals (ACP), which existed for 20 years until it was dissolved in 2023.

"We are always open to dialogue, as it is important for us to hear the opinion of the players' community," Martynov said, adding that they are yet to receive any documents related to the newly founded assosication.

FIDE's Legal Director noted that players were notified in writing, and through public statements, on February 4 that they do not have to sign the waiver contract: "Thus, the claims that the players decided to "ignore FIDE's demands" raises legitimate doubts," he said, adding:

“All in all, if having a ‘World Championship’ title ‘was never an intention,’ as Mr. Buettner claims, then it is unclear what the controversy was about,” FIDE stated. “FIDE has never opposed the organization of private chess series, and we are always open to aligning the calendar for the benefit of players and fans.”

All in all, if having a ‘World Championship’ title ‘was never an intention,’ as Mr. Buettner claims, then it is unclear what the controversy was about.

—Aleksandr Martynov, FIDE Legal Director

The second day of quarterfinals in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Weissenhaus, the first of five tournaments in the tour, continues on Monday. The remaining four events are scheduled for France, the U.S.A., India, and South Africa.