Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Loses India Stop; Sponsorship Drought Keeps Magnus Carlsen Away

Magnus Carlsen (Photo Credit: Freestyle Chess/Lennart Ootes)

NEW DELHI: Chess enthusiasts in India will be disappointed to learn that the Indian leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, slated for New Delhi from September 17-24, has been cancelled due to a lack of sponsorships. This means Magnus Carlsen, the Grand Slam leader, will not be competing in India this year.

Jan Henric Buettner, co-founder and CEO of Freestyle Chess, confirmed the cancellation to TimesofIndia.com. He stated, “We still have the same situation as we’ve had for the past one and a half years. I’ve approached several Indian sponsors, but none have come forward. That’s why we’ve decided to take the event elsewhere.”

Carlsen currently dominates the Freestyle Chess Championship standings with 65 points. Following him are American GM Fabiano Caruana and Vincent Keymer, winner of the German leg. India’s Arjun Erigaisi is currently in sixth place with 16 points.

The cancellation represents a significant setback for Indian chess fans. They were eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see World No. 1 Carlsen participate in the innovative Freestyle Chess format. This format introduces randomized starting positions, rewarding creativity and strategic thinking over rote memorization of openings.

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Standings

The Delhi leg was poised to bring a constellation of global chess stars to India, a nation currently experiencing a surge in chess talent and gaining increased international recognition.

With the Indian leg now off the table, the organizers are actively seeking an alternative location to ensure the continuation of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour.

TimesofIndia.com has also learned that Buettner will be stepping down from his position as CEO of Freestyle Chess on July 1.

Current Chief Operating Officer Thomas Harsch will assume the role of CEO, managing day-to-day operations. Buettner will transition to the role of Executive Chairman, remaining a key stakeholder and focusing on strategic direction.

Meanwhile, the Freestyle Chess Tour is now setting its sights on the United States.

From July 16-20, Wynn Las Vegas will host 16 of the world’s leading chess players in a high-stakes tournament boasting a prize pool of $750,000. The competition will feature group-stage rapid games followed by knockout rounds with extended time controls. The ultimate champion will be awarded a grand prize of $200,000.