Carlsen, the world’s highest-rated chess player since 2010, will take a seat in Weissenhaus, Germany, to compete in freestyle chess, previously known as Chess960 and Fischer Random. The starting position of the back row pieces is randomized, removing a top grandmaster’s lifetime of memorization and theory on how to open a chess game.

This isn't just another chess tournament though, with a public spat between Carlsen and the promoters of the FCGT with FIDE in the build-up to the tournament.

The five-tournament series will unfold through the year, with Paris, New York, New Delhi and Cape Town being the other four host cities. It will end with the final competition from December 5 to 12

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour boss Jan Henric Buettner and all-time great Magnus Carlsen have called on International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Arkady Dvorkovich to resign after talks over an agreement about the new series fell through.

Talking about the bitter battle between FIDE and Freestyle Chess, Carlsen said: “Right now it is very hard to have a relationship with any of the FIDE leadership. Speaking for myself and my father.”

Magnus Carlsen, a 34-year-old Norwegian, is among the greatest chess players of all time.

Discover why chess icon Magnus Carlsen is calling for the resignation of FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich amid a high-stakes dispute over the Grand Slam Tour.

I n a massive move that further fueled the ongoing controversy, the FIDE released a statement on Monday revealing that it hadn’t reached an agreement with the Freestyle Chess Gr