In a significant move, the 12 members of the Freestyle Chess Players Club (FCPC) have unanimously decided to crown the winner of the 2025 Grand Slam Tour as the “Freestyle Chess Champion,” deliberately avoiding the term “world champion.” This decision comes amid tensions with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) over the exclusive use of the “world champion” title.
Formation of an Independent Players Association
Beyond the title adjustment, FCPC members plan to establish an independent players’ association to safeguard their rights and interests. This initiative responds directly to recent conflicts with FIDE, which had pressured players to sign a waiver acknowledging an alleged obligation not to compete in non-FIDE events crowning a world champion or similar title. The waiver also threatened a ban from future FIDE World Championship cycles for violations. Players, some still teenagers, were notified of this demand and were given no chance for legal counsel to review it.
Jan Henric Buettner, co-founder of Freestyle Chess, criticized FIDE’s actions, stating, “These repeated harassments are outrageous. We strongly oppose FIDE’s coercive tactics, which pressure players to forgo their right to choose which events to play.”
Also Read: Freestyle Chess Grand Slam 2025 Revolutionizes the Game
Freestyle Chess Grand Slam: Temporary Agreement
The FCPC’s decision to use “Freestyle Chess Champion” is a temporary measure. Organizers and players will revisit the title’s usage for the 2026 tour at the end of the current season. This approach aims to counter FIDE’s claims of ownership over the term “world.”
The Freestyle Chess Tour continues to attract top talent, with six of the top eight live-rated players competing. After some surprising results, Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov lead the standings, while Magnus Carlsen, D Gukesh, and others need strong performances to advance.
Also Read: Gukesh’s Struggle Continues at Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Weissenhaus 2025
