Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Loses India Stop Due to Sponsorship Shortfall; Carlsen to Miss Delhi Event

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Loses India Leg: Sponsorship Woes Sideline Magnus Carlsen

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tournament's scheduled stop in New Delhi, India, from September 17-24, has been cancelled due to a lack of sponsors. This unfortunate development means that chess enthusiasts in India will miss the opportunity to see Magnus Carlsen, the Grand Slam leader, compete on their home soil.

Magnus Carlsen: Disappointment for Indian fans as Freestyle Chess event gets cancelled.

Jan Henric Buettner, co-founder and CEO of Freestyle Chess, confirmed the cancellation to TimesofIndia.com. "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 explained.

The cancellation is a significant disappointment for Indian chess fans. They were eagerly anticipating seeing Carlsen, currently ranked number one in the world, participate in the innovative Freestyle Chess format. This format distinguishes itself by randomizing the starting positions of the pieces, which places a greater emphasis on creative thinking and strategic adaptation rather than rote memorization of traditional openings.

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Standings

The Delhi leg of the Grand Slam was poised to be a landmark event, bringing a constellation of international chess stars to India at a time when the nation is witnessing a surge in chess talent and gaining increasing recognition on the global stage.

With the India leg now off the table, the organizers are actively exploring alternative locations to host an event as part of the ongoing Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour.

In related news, TimesofIndia.com has learned that Jan Henric Buettner will be stepping down from his position as CEO of Freestyle Chess, effective July 1st. Thomas Harsch, the current Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of CEO, managing the daily operations of the organization. Buettner will transition to the role of Executive Chairman, maintaining a significant stake in the company and focusing on strategic direction.

The Freestyle Chess Tour is now heading to the United States.

From July 16th to 20th, the Wynn Las Vegas will play host to 16 of the world's elite chess players in a high-stakes tournament boasting a prize pool of $750,000. The competition will feature a group stage consisting of rapid games, followed by knockout rounds with extended time controls. The ultimate champion will be awarded a substantial $200,000 prize.