India, Feb. 9 -- The ongoing dispute between FIDE and Freestyle Chess has generated significant controversy in recent weeks. During the first week of February, FIDE issued an official statement denying recognition of a Freestyle World Championship. In retaliation, Freestyle Chess published a public letter accusing FIDE of exerting pressure on players and calling for the resignation of President Arkady Dvorkovich. The letter included purported messages from Dvorkovich and alleged that he misled Freestyle Chess co-owner Jan Henric Buettner. Additionally, it claimed that FIDE pressured players to sign a waiver agreeing not to participate in any unofficial world championship.

In response to the unfolding situation, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky defended the organization. Sutovsky noted that younger players, whom Magnus Carlsen asserts support Freestyle Chess, actually back FIDE, highlighting that world champion D Gukesh signed the waiver indicating he would not engage in a non-official world championship.

On Sunday, Sutovsky took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to further criticize Freestyle Chess, particularly targeting Buettner. In an interview with the Take Take Take application, co-owned by Carlsen, Buettner expressed his desire to shield young players from FIDE, accusing the federation of applying undue pressure. He controversially likened the situation to rape. Sutovsky responded, stating, "Among all the recent assertions, the claim of 'protecting' young top players from FIDE is one of the most absurd."

Gukesh, Pragg, Arjun, Nodirbek, Vincent, and Javokhir represent exceptional talents who have experienced rapid growth, largely due to the initiatives of FIDE. Our strategy of distributing resources more equitably among players has played a significant role in their development. Each of these individuals has participated in multiple Grand Swiss events and World Cups, as well as the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, thanks to the policies we have implemented. For instance, Nodirbek achieved the title of World Rapid Champion in 2021, a time when he was relatively unknown, which significantly propelled his career forward. FIDE has always recognized the potential of these young talents, as evidenced by their performances in events such as the World Youth Championships and the World U16 Olympiad. We consistently offer wild cards to the most promising young players in our premier competitions.

This entire framework operates as a cohesive ecosystem. Consider this: Nodirbek would not have participated in the 2021 Championship he won, nor would Murzin have competed in New York, had we not made substantial investments to enhance the event, along with the associated costs. Reflecting on the Grand Swiss, I recall the eager young Indian players arriving to compete and learn from the best in 2019 and 2021, before their remarkable breakthrough in 2022, which occurred at the FIDE Olympiad.

However, it is essential to focus not only on past achievements. FIDE is actively shaping the present and future of chess. The budget for our major events in 2024 has surpassed 40 million USD, and we are committed to increasing prize funds and enhancing playing conditions for the 2025-2026 cycle. Organizing an exceptional event for a small group is relatively straightforward; the challenge lies in executing it for 300 participants. Yet, we consistently deliver on this promise, year after year, across various formats and locations, including New York, Singapore, Budapest, Astana, Toronto, and Samarkand. For example, the Grand Swiss 2025 will serve as the first qualifying tournament for the 2026 Match, with total prizes nearing 1 million USD and all expenses covered for 164 players, thereby providing both record prizes and a unique opportunity. This is how we foster the growth of the game, and we will continue to do so because we are dedicated to its advancement.

In a recent interview with ChessBase India, D Gukesh adopted a diplomatic approach when initially addressing the ongoing controversy. However, upon further inquiry, he asserted his belief that Chess960 is unlikely to surpass the classical format. Currently, he is participating in the first leg of the Grand Slam Tour in Germany, having secured a place in the quarter-finals by finishing eighth in the round-robin stage.

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