India, Jan. 30 -- The chess community has taken on the characteristics of a reality television series since last month, as FIDE finds itself in conflict with Magnus Carlsen's Freestyle Grand Slam Tour. In December of the previous year, FIDE and the Freestyle Chess Players' Club (FCPC) reached a consensus, wherein the international governing body officially acknowledged the Freestyle Tour. However, the primary issue arises from the FCPC co-founders, Magnus Carlsen and Jan Henric Buettner, who are seeking to establish an official Freestyle World Championship independent of FIDE's influence.

In a recent interview with VG, Buettner, a German entrepreneur and co-owner of the FCPC, criticized FIDE, claiming that the organization demanded $500,000 for the rights to utilize the world championship title. He further indicated his intention to pursue legal action against them.

The FCPC comprises the top 26 chess players globally, including Carlsen, D Gukesh, Viswanathan Anand, and R Praggnanandhaa. Buettner also made a startling allegation, suggesting that FIDE was engaging in blackmail against players.

He mentioned that FIDE's contract has a deadline of February 3 and contains a provision stating that any player participating in a world championship not sanctioned by the Arkady Dvorkovich-led organization would be barred from the competitive cycle for the subsequent four years. Buettner expressed scepticism regarding players' willingness to sign the contract.

Buettner remarked, "I don't believe any players will endorse this absurd contract."

He elaborated, "The contract is absurd in numerous respects. The players are coming together to seek a common ground. I find it hard to comprehend the absurdity of these individuals," he added.

There has been no official statement from prominent players such as Gukesh, Anand, and Praggnanandhaa regarding their stance on FIDE's demands or their alignment with Carlsen's FCPC. The situation is further complicated by Anand's role as FIDE's deputy president, which has drawn criticism from Magnus Carlsen during the World Rapid and Blitz Championship, where the Norwegian accused the Indian grandmaster of failing to fulfill his responsibilities adequately.

Meanwhile, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky has also responded to the accusations on X, where he has stated that the FIDE just wants formal recognition as the governing body.

Read Also: Khawaja's Remarkable Recovery: Nearly Matches Don Bradman's Record After 'Getting Bumrah-ed'

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!