Bengaluru: A dozen members from the Freestyle Chess Players Club, including India's reigning world champion D Gukesh, have decided to create an independent players association with a qualified legal team to advocate for their interests, according to a statement from Freestyle Chess released on Monday. This decision comes as a direct reaction to recent disputes with FIDE.

The meeting on Sunday evening, which took place after the first day of the quarterfinals in Weissenhaus, Germany, included all participants of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, remote members of the club, and organizer Jan Buettner. “They agreed to temporarily stop using the term ‘world’ to counter FIDE’s baseless claims of ownership over that word.”

“This was never our goal, as we’ve always referred to our events as ‘G.O.A.T. Challenge’ or ‘Grand Slam,’” Buettner explained. “It’s crucial to understand that this decision came from the players, not from Freestyle — and definitely not from FIDE.” The title of “Freestyle Chess Champion” will be in effect for the 2025 season. By the end of the year, organizers and players will evaluate and discuss the 2026 tour, including the title at stake, as mentioned in the statement.

Last month, Fide reportedly insisted that players sign a sketchy document with a tight deadline right after the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, where a lot of them were competing. This document required players to (i) admit to a supposed obligation not to participate in non-FIDE events that crown a World Champion or something similar, and (ii) agree to a ban from future Fide World Championship cycles if they broke this rule.

Buettner expressed outrage, stating, “The players, some of whom are still teenagers, were informed by Fide’s Legal Director without any opportunity to consult legal counsel about the demand. These ongoing pressures are unacceptable. We firmly stand against Fide’s coercive methods that force players to give up their right to choose which events they want to participate in.”

Buettner also mentioned, “We were prepared to take all necessary steps to protect the players' freedom.” However, during a meeting on Sunday, the players collectively decided to disregard Fide’s demands, refusing to be put in a position where they had to choose between exciting new events and future participation in Fide tournaments.

Read Also: D Gukesh Acknowledges Defeat, Resigns After Foreseeing Checkmate by Caruana in Viral Clip

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