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Magnus Carlsen, the five-time world champion, has confirmed that his longstanding dispute with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has come to an end. However, Carlsen remains adamant about not returning to compete for the World Chess Championship. While acknowledging that he and FIDE will “sort of coexist,” Carlsen made it clear that he is content staying away from the classical title race.
Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Controversy Resolved
The conflict between Carlsen and FIDE stemmed from the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, which Carlsen co-founded with a German businessman. Initially, the organizers of the tour planned to crown the event's winner as the “Freestyle Chess World Champion.” FIDE strongly opposed this, even attempting to block top-ranked players from participating.
After prolonged negotiations, an agreement was reached, whereby the title of “world champion” was dropped, and the event’s winner would instead be called the “Freestyle Chess Champion.” This resolution ultimately brought an end to the standoff between Carlsen and FIDE.
Carlsen Maintains Distance from FIDE
In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Carlsen expressed his continued disinterest in FIDE’s activities. The world No. 1 chess player reiterated his decision to steer clear of the classical World Championship.
“I’m not really very interested in what FIDE are doing. I’m sort of trying to do my things, being with the Esports World Cup, Chess.com, and Freestyle,” Carlsen said.
He further emphasized that while FIDE retains legitimacy through its control over the classical championship, he has no intention of revisiting that domain.
“FIDE’s crown jewel is the classical world championship, right? That’s what gives FIDE legacy and legitimacy, and none of us are going after that,” Carlsen added.
Focus Shifts to Freestyle and Esports
Carlsen remains focused on alternative platforms such as the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam and the Esports World Cup. He will participate in the Paris leg of the Freestyle Grand Slam next month before joining Team Liquid at the Esports World Cup.
Eager to showcase the strength of experienced players in faster formats, Carlsen named Alireza Firouzja and Hikaru Nakamura, along with himself, as the top three contenders.
“Old Guard” Still Dominates Faster Formats
Carlsen pointed out that younger players take longer to develop strength in rapid and blitz formats. This, he believes, gives seasoned players like Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and himself an advantage.
“It takes a little bit more time (for the youngsters) to build strength in faster formats than it does in classical chess,” he remarked.
Future Outlook: Carlsen’s Legacy Far from Over
While acknowledging that his level may gradually decline over time, Carlsen remains confident about his performance in rapid formats.
“When it comes to motivation, it’s very hard to say, but I find it hard to believe that my level is just going to drop off a cliff. I think there’s certainly going to be some steady decline, but I think I can keep going for at least a few years,” Carlsen concluded.
As Carlsen distances himself from the classical chess scene, his focus on faster formats and innovative platforms continues to shape the future of chess beyond FIDE’s traditional stronghold.
