Magnus Carlsen Withdraws from FIDE Events Amid Ongoing Dispute
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen has recently made a big disclosure that he will no longer participate in FIDE events. Carlsen will now focus all of his attention on the Project Freestyle Grand Slam Tour. Carlsen has been at loggerheads with FIDE, the world chess governing body, for the past two months, so his recent comments are not surprising.
However, Carlsen emphasized that he is not trying to eliminate classical chess with his freestyle chess project. The controversy between Magnus Carlsen and FIDE began after the launch of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam.
In an interview, Magnus Carlsen said,
"FIDE has now really started to retreat. All I can say right now is that my relationship with FIDE and my team has been very bad. At least that's the case with the current administration. "
Carlson went on to say,
For the time being, he will not participate in the World Rapid and Blitz Championships to be held in Doha, Qatar in December. If he withdraws from the event, it will be the first time since 2013 that the event will be held without Magnus Carlsen. "As it stands now, it is completely impossible. "
Talking about the bitter battle between FIDE and freestyle chess, Carlsen said,
"What has happened is unfortunate. Happy to focus on the tournament now. Things could have been sorted out earlier. Right now it is very difficult to build a relationship with any of the leadership of FIDE. I'm speaking for myself and my father. "