The long-standing dispute between the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the organisers of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour continues to escalate, with negotiations failing to yield a resolution. Despite intensive discussions, no agreement has been reached, primarily due to disagreements over the use of the term ‘World Championship.’
On Monday, FIDE released an official statement on X, asserting that talks had failed due to Freestyle Chess Operations’ refusal to acknowledge its authority.
“Despite intensive negotiations, the FIDE Council states that there is currently no agreement regarding the Freestyle Tour. This is due to the other party’s refusal to acknowledge FIDE’s status as the sole regulator of World Chess Championships and its authority to award a World Championship title,” FIDE posted.
The governing body also confirmed that a detailed statement would be published later that evening to elaborate on the ongoing impasse.
A Feud Over ‘World Championship’ Rights: FIDE’s Stand

At the heart of the dispute lies the issue of naming rights. FIDE has consistently maintained that it alone has the power to sanction events with the ‘World Championship’ title. Meanwhile, the Freestyle Chess Tour, co-owned by world No.1 Magnus Carlsen and German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner, has challenged this exclusivity. The tour’s organisers have insisted on labeling their event’s winner as a ‘world champion,’ a move that FIDE has strongly opposed.
Beyond semantics, financial disagreements have also contributed to the rift. Reports indicate that the Freestyle Chess Tour organisers initially offered FIDE $100,000, which they described as a “gesture of goodwill and to avoid harassment.” However, FIDE reportedly rejected this, instead demanding $500,000. The dispute has only grown more contentious, with accusations flying from both sides.
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Negotiation Efforts Fall Apart
Amidst the standoff, there had been recent hopes for reconciliation. Last week, Buettner and FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich engaged in multiple direct phone calls, aiming to broker a deal. Buettner had sounded optimistic about an imminent resolution.
“I already had two phone calls with Arkady yesterday and the day before, and we’re going to have another one today. I can tell you that we are pretty close to reaching an amicable agreement that will lead to a good situation where we kind of bury the hatchet and say, ‘okay, let’s move on with an agreement that works for both sides,’” Buettner told The Indian Express on Friday.
However, Monday’s statement from FIDE suggests that those efforts have fallen through. While neither party has confirmed what specifically derailed the negotiations, the issue of championship recognition appears to remain a critical sticking point.
Legal Threats and Growing Divisions
The fallout from this dispute extends beyond mere naming rights. FIDE has accused Carlsen and Freestyle Chess of creating divisions in the chess world and has even threatened legal action if the Grand Slam Tour continues to present itself as a World Championship. Carlsen, in turn, has claimed that FIDE has been pressuring players against participating in the event.
While a recent newspaper report suggested that Dvorkovich and Buettner had been making progress towards a compromise, FIDE’s latest announcement indicates that the rift remains as deep as ever.
With both sides refusing to back down, the battle for control over chess’s highest title appears set to intensify further in the coming weeks.
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