In a fiery interview with VG, FCPC co-owner Jan Henric Buettner made a shocking revelation about the ongoing chess war between FIDE and the Freestyle Chess Players’ Club (FCPC). Buettner, a German entrepreneur, criticized FIDE for demanding a hefty sum of $500,000 to use the World Chess Championship title. The deadline for this contract is set for February 3, and it has left top players like D Gukesh, Viswanathan Anand, and R Praggnanandhaa in a tough spot.
The controversy started in December when FIDE officially recognized the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour, led by Magnus Carlsen and Buettner, but the conflict escalated when the FCPC co-founders proposed the creation of an official Freestyle World Championship, free from FIDE’s control. The latest bombshell from Buettner reveals that FIDE’s contract includes a clause stating that any player who participates in a World Championship not approved by the FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich’s organization will be banned from the cycle for the next four years.
Buettner lashed out at the “ridiculous” contract, stating, “I don’t think any players will sign this ridiculous contract. That’s the reason, it’s so ridiculous in so many ways. The players are uniting and trying to find something they can agree on.” He accused FIDE of blackmailing players and creating unnecessary pressure.
While there has been no official confirmation from Gukesh, Anand, or Praggnanandhaa regarding their decision, their association with the FCPC and the growing tensions with FIDE has sparked speculation. Adding to the complexity, Anand, who serves as FIDE’s deputy president, has recently come under fire from Carlsen, who criticized him for failing to fulfill his role during the World Rapid and Blitz Championship.
FIDE’s CEO Emil Sutovsky responded to Buettner’s accusations on X, emphasizing that FIDE only seeks formal recognition as the governing body of chess and that its demands are in the best interest of the sport.
