The usually strategic world of elite chess was thrown into a state of unusual flux last week. The surprise did not come from a dramatic match or a fiery off-board controversy, but from a sudden and confusing announcement: the chess world now has two new "World Championship" tours vying for attention and legitimacy.
A Clash of Titles: Total Chess Tour vs. Freestyle Chess
Within a matter of days, two major initiatives were unveiled on the global stage. First, the Total Chess World Championship Tour, a joint venture between Norway Chess and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), revealed its list of 16 players eligible for a pilot event scheduled for 3–15 October 2026. Almost simultaneously, FIDE, in partnership with Freestyle Chess, launched the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship.
The optics are striking and impossible to ignore. Two competing circuits, both bearing the prestigious "world championship" label and promising global reach and substantial prize funds. For now, the Total Chess Tour is officially a work in progress, with its 2026 event designated as a pilot. The first full season, aiming to crown an official Total Chess World Champion, is slated for 2027.
Freestyle Chess CEO Reacts: "Much More Difficult Than It Looks"
Jan Henric Buettner, co-founder and CEO of Freestyle Chess, offered a candid perspective in an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com from South Africa. Reacting to the Total Chess Tour announcement, Buettner acknowledged the interest but highlighted the immense challenges of execution.
"When I heard about it, I thought, okay, it’s interesting," Buettner said. "But in the end, it’s much more difficult than it looks from the outset to start a tour. I can really say that from my own experience." He pointed out the difficulties of organizing across continents and securing high-level prize money.
Buettner also noted a sense of familiarity in the Total Chess Tour's blueprint. "In their public communication, it feels a little bit like a copy and paste of what we have done, from prize funding, going around the world, and so on," he observed. This sentiment has echoed across social media, where players and fans have expressed both curiosity and confusion, a point Buettner reinforced by referencing Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi's humorous video on the maze of new formats.
Execution is Key: The Real Challenge Lies Ahead
Despite the comparisons, Buettner stopped short of outright dismissal and wished the new tour luck. He speculated that it might have even encouraged FIDE to be more open to creating multiple world championship titles.
However, he emphasized that many crucial details about the Total Chess Tour remain undefined. "They just announced the players who have qualified, but we still don’t know the location, what exactly they’re doing," Buettner stated. He warned that organizing a home event, potentially in Norway, is fundamentally different from the logistical hurdle of staging tournaments on other continents, a challenge Freestyle Chess knows well.
In a revealing aside, Buettner confirmed that Freestyle Chess had plans to host a Grand Slam leg in India last year, but the effort fell through due to a lack of interest from Indian sponsors, underscoring the practical difficulties of global expansion.
Looking ahead, Buettner expressed an open-minded view on coexistence. "After this new development, it might even be a good thing," he mused. "They can do their tour, and maybe the winner of their tour also has a qualification for the World Championship in Freestyle Chess. Why not? I’m open to anything."
On a personal note, Buettner addressed speculation about his role, clarifying that a planned CEO transition in July did not happen as the organization was not ready. "I’m not the person who leaves something that’s not in the right place," he said, indicating his plan to lead through the upcoming World Championship before handing over leadership for season two.
The chess world now watches and waits. Whether the Total Chess World Championship Tour can carve its own identity or will be perceived as an imitator, and whether the sport will benefit from these parallel championship pathways, will only become clear once the clocks start ticking and both tours truly begin their global roll-out.
