Latest news with #FreestyleChess
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First Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
D Gukesh's withdrawal from Las Vegas expected, says Freestyle Chess CEO: ‘Performances have not been that good'
After struggling in the first two legs of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Weissenhaus and Paris, reigning world champion D Gukesh has opted to withdraw from the Las Vegas leg next month. Freestyle Chess co-founder and CEO Jan Henric Buettner reacts… read more D Gukesh failed to win a single game in the opening leg of the Grand Slam Tour in Weissenhaus before finishing at the bottom in Paris. Image: Freestyle Chess Gukesh Dommaraju will be taking a break after participating in SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz, the event that takes place in Zagreb from 2 to 6 July and is part of the Grand Chess Tour. Which means that the 19-year-old not be taking part in the third leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas, USA from 16 to 20 July. And according to Freestyle Chess co-founder and CEO Jan Henric Buettner, Gukesh's withdrawal from the American leg of the tour was along expected lines, with the teenager – an automatic entry in all Grand Slam events as the world champion – having struggled in Weissenhaus and Paris. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'He said he's exhausted and needs rest,' Buettner told The Times of India. 'His performances have not been that good at any Grand Slam. We were always expecting that he would decline to participate in the next event.' More from Chess D Gukesh missing as Freestyle Chess announces full line-up for Las Vegas Grand Slam; Bibisara set to make history 'Anyway, he had an invitation (for the Las Vegas leg). So after his not-so-good performance in Paris, he was still up for the task. He said, 'We're gonna come. I will come to Las Vegas',' added the German entrepreneur, who will be . 'Norway Chess exhausted him so much' Gukesh had a forgettable run in the first two events of the inaugural Grand Slam Tour, failing to collect a single win in the opening event in Weissenhaus. He did collect a victory in the second event in Paris, but ended up finishing at the bottom of the standings along with compatriot Vidit Gujrathi. The Chennai lad, who had defeated Ding Liren to become the youngest Classical world champion in Singapore in December, had even opened up on his struggles with the unpredictable Freestyle format after his disappointing run across the first two events. Buettner added that Gukesh will have been further exhausted after Norway Chess, where he finished third after a stunning 62-move victory over Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round – the first time he defeated the world No 1 in his career. 'But then, there was Norway Chess. This exhausted him so much. Even I would be exhausted. He was so exhausted that I got a message. He said he's exhausted and would like to rest. He can't come to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he needs rest. So, you know, that's understandable,' the 60-year-old added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Buettner added that Indian Grandmaster Gujrathi, who was among the four Indians playing in the Paris leg alongside Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, has been included as the world champion's replacement for Las Vegas.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Exclusive: D Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen not happening in Las Vegas; Freestyle Chess reveals why world champion isn't playing
D Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen (Photo Credit: Freestyle Chess/Lennart Ootes) NEW DELHI: The official line-up for the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour was released last Tuesday, and one name was conspicuously absent. Reigning World Champion D Gukesh, who was widely expected to take on Magnus Carlsen once again, was not listed among the 16 players set to battle it out in Sin City from July 16 to 20. Now, Freestyle Chess co-founder and CEO Jan Henric Buettner has revealed the reason behind the late change. "He said he's exhausted and needs rest," Buettner told during an exclusive interaction. "His performances have not been that good at any Grand Slam. We were always expecting that he would decline to participate in the next event," Buettner added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Freestyle Chess (@freestyle_chess) "Anyway, he had an invitation (for the Las Vegas leg). So after his not-so-good performance in Paris, he was still up for the task. He said, 'We're gonna come. I will come to Las Vegas,'" he added. "But then, there was Norway Chess. This exhausted him so much. Even I would be exhausted. He was so exhausted that I got a message. He said he's exhausted and would like to rest. He can't come to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he needs rest. So, you know, that's understandable." Buettner confirmed that Vidit has now been formally included in the line-up in place of Gukesh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brazilian Bikinis 2025 Expertinspector Click Here Undo 'So we invited Vidit again as a replacement. So Vidit will wear the red jacket of Gukesh this time in Vegas,' he said. D Gukesh, Vidit Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa from right to left (Photo Credit: ChessBase India) In Freestyle Chess, it has become a tradition for players to wear distinctively coloured jackets -- like in Paris, where R Praggnandhaa wore green, Arjun Eigiasi blue, Vidit maroon, and Gukesh red. The withdrawal comes at a time when Gukesh has been trying to strike consistency on the Freestyle Chess circuit. After an eighth-place finish at Weissenhaus and 11th in Paris, the 19-year-old stood 11th overall with just four FCC points. Post-Grenke Open, he dropped further to 16th. However, Gukesh showed his class at the recent Norway Chess tournament, where he finished third -- just behind Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana -- and notched up wins over the top three FIDE-rated players: Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Arjun Erigaisi. Exclusive | Arjuna Awardee Vantika Agrawal: 'People still ask, 'Chess is fine, but what do you really do?'' Meanwhile, the Las Vegas event, the fourth stop of the 2025 Grand Slam Tour, will be Freestyle Chess's first ever on American soil. Hosted at the Wynn Las Vegas from July 16 to 20, the tournament will welcome a live audience and feature a prize pool of $750,000, with $200,000 reserved for the winner. In another development first reported by on Thursday , the Indian leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, scheduled for September 17–24 in New Delhi, has been cancelled due to lack of sponsors. Meanwhile, Jan Henric Buettner will step down as CEO on July 1, with COO Thomas Harsch set to take over daily operations. Buettner will continue as Executive Chairman in a strategic role. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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First Post
6 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Big blow to Indian chess as Freestyle Chess Tour India event cancelled due to lack of sponsors: 'India will not happen'
Magnus Carlsen and other top players like Hikaru Nakamura will not be coming to India in 2025 for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Delhi as the event has been cancelled by the organisers due to lack of sponsors. read more No Freestyle Chess Tour in India means the Indian fans won't be able to see D Gukesh take on Magnus Carlsen at home. Image: Freestyle Chess on X Freestyle Chess has confirmed that the Indian leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour has been called off due to a lack of sponsors. While it had been speculated for months that the Delhi Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour would be cancelled, the news has now been confirmed by Jan Henric Buettner, the CEO of Freestyle Chess. 'India will not happen this year,' Buettner told The India leg was scheduled to be the penultimate stage in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025. So far, three legs in Weissenhaus, Paris and Karlsruhe have been completed, while the fourth leg is set to take place in Las Vegas . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour will conclude in Cape Town (5-12 December) as per the schedule. Buettner to leave CEO sport in Freestyle Chess In the meantime, Buettner has confirmed that there could be a replacement or an alternative event now that the Delhi leg has been cancelled. 'We will do something special for the September leg of the tour instead. This will be announced after Las Vegas,' he said. German businessman Buettner has also confirmed that he will leave the position of Freestyle Chess's CEO on 1 July, with Thomas Harsch replacing him. Buettner had spoken about his intentions of leaving the CEO position in the past as well. 'I hope I get out of it! I want it to be implemented in a perfect way. I am giving everything, so when all my visions in my head are implemented, then I can have a more executive role,' Buettner had told The upcoming Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour will take place from 16-20 July, with world No.1 Magnus Carlsen looking to extend his lead at the top. He currently leads the Grand Slam tour with 65 points. World champion D Gukesh of India will not take part in the US event and there's no clarity on possible reasons for his absence. Nonetheless, India will have three players in Las Vegas, including Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Exclusive: No Magnus Carlsen in India! Freestyle Chess event called off over lack of sponsors
Magnus Carlsen (Photo Credit: Freestyle Chess/Lennart Ootes) NEW DELHI: The Indian leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, which was scheduled to be held in New Delhi from September 17 to 24, has been cancelled by lack of sponsors. The tournament, which would have featured Grand Slam leader Magnus Carlsen , will no longer take place in India this year. Freestyle Chess co-founder and CEO Jan Henric Buettner confirmed the development to '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,' Buettner said. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Carlsen currently leads the Freestyle Chess Championship standings with 65 points. American GM Fabiano Caruana and German leg winner Vincent Keymer are next in line, while India's Arjun Erigaisi is placed sixth with 16 points. Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Standings The cancellation is a setback for Indian fans, who were looking forward to witnessing World No. 1 Carlsen compete in the innovative Freestyle Chess format, which randomises starting positions and places greater emphasis on creativity over memorised openings. Multipolar World Is A Chess Game, Not A Monopoly: Jaishankar's Sharp Take On Diplomacy in Brussels The Delhi leg was expected to bring global chess stars to Indian soil, at a time when the country is experiencing a rapid rise in talent and international recognition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like India: Don't Miss Out on These Amazing Sofa Deals at Clearance Prices Luxury Sofa | Search ads Undo With the India leg called off, organisers are now working on an alternative event as part of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour. has also learned that Buettner will step down as CEO of Freestyle Chess on July 1. Poll Which player are you most disappointed to miss at the cancelled event? Magnus Carlsen Fabiano Caruana Vincent Keymer Arjun Erigaisi Current Chief Operating Officer Thomas Harsch will take over the role and handle the day-to-day affairs, while Buettner will continue as Executive Chairman and remain a key stakeholder in the company, shifting to a more strategic role. Meanwhile, the next stop for the Freestyle Chess Tour will be in the United States. From July 16 to 20, Wynn Las Vegas will host 16 of the world's top players in a $750,000 tournament. The format includes group-stage rapid games and knockout rounds with longer time controls. The winner will take home $200,000. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Magnus Carlsen lost to 9-year-old Indian? All you need to know
Magnus Carlsen (Photo by) Nine-year-old Indian Aarit Kapil achieved a remarkable draw against world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the 'Early Titled Tuesday' online chess tournament. Aarit, who recently finished as runner-up in the Under-9 National Championship, dominated the game against the five-time world champion and had Carlsen in a losing position. Time pressure ultimately prevented the young Indian from converting his advantage, leading to a draw in a rook versus two minor pieces endgame. The Delhi boy participated in the event from Georgia, where he is currently competing in the under-10 World Championship. He has won his first two rounds and will continue with his third game on Wednesday. Indian player V Pranav won the 'Early Titled Tuesday' tournament with 10 points out of 11. American Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann and Carlsen tied with 9.5 points, with Niemann claiming second place on tiebreak. Magnus Carlsen has recently reached a historic 2900 rating in freestyle chess, a milestone never achieved before in any format. Poll Should Aarit Kapil be considered a future chess champion? Yes, absolutely Not sure yet No, he still has a long way to go Carlsen, who has held the world number one position for nearly 15 years, previously reached his peak classical chess rating of 2882 in May 2014. The new freestyle chess ratings are now managed by Freestyle Chess organisation, separate from FIDE, the global chess governing body. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nhà container vận chuyển 2025 (Xem ngay) Shipping Container Homes Tìm hiểu thêm Undo "My wife (Ella Victoria) is way more attracted to me now that I've achieved 2900," Carlsen told Freestyle Chess, joking after learning about his rating. 'Cricketers Aren't Cattle... ': Harish Thawani on the IPL and Business of Indian Cricket The freestyle ratings calculation included five tournaments: Weissenhaus 2024, Singapore 2024, Weissenhaus 2025, Paris 2025, and Karlsruhe 2025, covering 578 players who competed in at least one event over two years. Indian chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa ranks fourth with 2773 points, following Carlsen (2909), Hikaru Nakamura (2818), and Fabiano Caruana (2804). Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
