Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Axed in India: Sponsorship Failure Costs Fans Chance to See Magnus Carlsen

The New Delhi leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, initially scheduled for September 17-24, has been called off due to a lack of sponsors. This cancellation means that the tournament, set to feature Freestyle Chess Championship leader Magnus Carlsen, will not be held in India this year.

Jan Henric Buettner, co-founder and CEO of Freestyle Chess, confirmed the news to TimesofIndia.com. He stated that despite approaching several Indian sponsors over the past year and a half, none have committed, leading to the decision to move the event elsewhere.

This cancellation is a significant disappointment for Indian chess enthusiasts. They were eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen compete in the innovative Freestyle Chess format. This format emphasizes creativity over rote memorization of openings by randomizing starting positions.

The Delhi leg was expected to draw global chess stars to India, a nation currently experiencing a surge in chess talent and international recognition.

Organizers are now actively seeking an alternative location to host an event as part of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour.

In other news, TimesofIndia.com has learned that Jan Henric Buettner will step down from his role as CEO of Freestyle Chess on July 1. Thomas Harsch, the current Chief Operating Officer, will assume the CEO position, managing the day-to-day operations. Buettner will transition to the role of Executive Chairman, remaining a key stakeholder and focusing on strategic initiatives.

The next stop on the Freestyle Chess Tour is scheduled for the United States.

From July 16-20, Wynn Las Vegas will host 16 of the world’s leading chess players in a high-stakes tournament with a $750,000 prize pool. The format will consist of group-stage rapid games followed by knockout rounds with extended time controls. The tournament champion will be awarded $200,000.