The highly anticipated Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour event in India has been cancelled due to a lack of sponsors. The tournament, which was scheduled to take place in New Delhi from September 17-25, was supposed to be the fifth leg of the inaugural tour and feature world number one Magnus Carlsen.
Jan Henric Buettner, co-founder and CEO of Freestyle Chess, confirmed that despite approaching several Indian sponsors for the past year and a half, none have come forward to support the event. As a result, the decision was made to move the event elsewhere. "India will not happen this year," Buettner told Chess.com.
This cancellation is a significant setback for Indian chess fans, many of whom were looking forward to seeing Carlsen and other global chess stars compete on Indian soil in the innovative Freestyle Chess format. Freestyle Chess randomizes the starting positions of the pieces, which places a greater emphasis on creativity and skill.
The Delhi leg was expected to bring global chess stars to India at a time when the country is experiencing a surge in chess talent and international recognition. Young Indian Grandmasters like Arjun Erigaisi are making their mark on the world stage, and the event would have provided a platform for them to compete against the best in the world.
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour has already held successful events in Weissenhaus, Paris, and Karlsruhe. Magnus Carlsen currently leads the tour standings with 65 points. The next event is scheduled for Las Vegas from July 16-20, followed by the tour's conclusion in Cape Town from December 5-12.
Despite the cancellation of the India event, Buettner hinted that there may be an alternative event in September, but details will be announced after the Las Vegas event.
In addition to the cancellation, Jan Henric Buettner will step down as CEO of Freestyle Chess on July 1. Thomas Harsch, the current Chief Operating Officer, will take over the role and manage day-to-day operations. Buettner will remain involved as Executive Chairman and a key stakeholder, focusing on strategy.
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour was founded in 2024 by Buettner and Magnus Carlsen. The tour aims to promote a new and exciting format of chess, and Chess.com has partnered with the tour to provide streaming and coverage of the events.
The cancellation of the India event is undoubtedly a blow to the country's chess community. However, the organizers are working on an alternative event to ensure the tour continues to deliver high-quality chess action.
