The continued FIDE vs Freestyle Chess controversy has created a lot furore currently. The primary week of February noticed FIDE launch an official assertion the place it denied official recognition to a Freestyle World Championship. In response, Freestyle Chess launched an official public letter the place it accused FIDE of placing stress on gamers and likewise demanded for the resignation of president Arkady Dvorkovich. The open letter additionally launched some alleged messages of Dvorkovich and accused him of deceptive Freestyle Chess co-owner Jan Henric Buettner. The letter additionally accused FIDE of pressuring gamers to signal a waiver which said that they will not take part in a non-official world c’ship.
FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky attacked the continued Freestyle Chess controversy with an announcement which included D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi.
In the meantime, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky additionally reacted to the controversy by defending the worldwide chess physique. In an interview with Hindustan Instances earlier, Sutovsky additionally revealed that the youthful gamers (Magnus Carlsen claims they help Freestyle Chess) help FIDE and world champion D Gukesh additionally signed the waiver which said that he gained’t take part in a non-official world championship.
FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky’s newest comment on Freestyle Chess controversy
On Sunday, Sutovsky took to X, previously often known as Twitter, and as soon as once more attacked Freestyle Chess, and specifically Buettner. In an interview with Take Take Take software, co-owned by Carlsen, Buettner claimed that he needs to guard the younger gamers from FIDE, and accused the federation of placing stress on gamers. The German entrepreneur additionally went on to check it to rape in weird method. Sutovsky wrote, “Out of all the recent claims “protecting” young top players from FIDE is one of the most ridiculous.”
“Gukesh, Pragg, Arjun, Nodirbek, Vincent, Javokhir – they all are great talents, who managed to grow so fast largely to FIDE efforts – and specifically to our policy of not allocating all our resourses to serve just a few players. All of them were participants of several Grand Swiss events and World Cups, as well as World Rapid and Blitz – where they got a place thanks to the policy we implement. For example, Nodirbek became World Rapid Champion in 2021, when very few ever heard of him – and that gave him a huge boost in his career. But of course FIDE knew about the best young talents – because they shined in World Youth, World U16 Olympiad and other events we organize, and we always provide wild cards to the most promising young players in our top events.
“It is all one eco-system. Now, think about it. Nodirbek would just not be a participant of that 2021 Championship he won – as well as Murzin would not even play in New York, had we not invested in making the event bigger, with all the costs it ensues. Take Grand Swiss. I remember these little Indian boys with shining eyes coming to compete and learn from the best in 2019 and 2021, before the breakthrough of 2022. And the breakthrough – where it happened? At FIDE Olympiad.
“But let’s not just recall the past. FIDE is the present – and the future. The budget of our 2024 major events exceeded 40M USD – and for the cycle of 2025-2026 we keep increasing the prize funds and improving the playing conditions. It is not too difficult to make an exceptional event for 10 people – go make it for 300 people. And we deliver time after time. Year after year. Whatever the format. New York, Singapore, Budapest, Astana, Toronto, Samarkand – East or West. Take Grand Swiss 2025 – the first qualifier tournament for the 2026 Match. Total prizes are almost at 1M – but also all the expenses covered for 164 players – once again providing record prizes, but also a unique opportunity. That’s how we grow the game. And we will keep doing so. Because we care”, he additional added.
In a latest interview with ChessBase India, D Gukesh took a diplomatic stance initially when questioned in regards to the ongoing controversy. However when pressed with the query once more, he made it clear that he doesn’t assume Chess960 can overtake the classical format. He’s presently in motion within the first leg of the Grand Slam Tour in Germany, and certified for the quarter-finals after ending eighth within the round-robin stage.