In a significant development for the chess world, the global governing body FIDE and the organisers of Freestyle Chess have resolved their public differences. The two entities have announced a collaborative venture to host the inaugural FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship this February.
Peace Deal Paves Way for Elite Championship
The announcement marks the end of a prolonged public dispute, with both parties agreeing to "bury the hatchet." The championship will be governed jointly under a clear framework, bringing the popular freestyle format under the official FIDE umbrella. The event is scheduled to take place at Weissenhaus from February 13 to 15, 2025.
This new championship becomes the fifth world title in chess, alongside the classical, rapid, blitz, and the newly announced Total Chess championships. Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, emphasised the importance of integrating elite competition in this format under established international standards.
Star-Studded Lineup and Qualification Path
The eight-player tournament will feature a formidable field. Six players have already secured their spots based on their performance in the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. The qualified stars are:
- Magnus Carlsen (Norway)
- Arjun Erigaisi (India)
- Levon Aronian (USA)
- Fabiano Caruana (USA)
- Vincent Keymer (Germany)
- Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan)
The remaining two slots will be filled by separate nominations. Freestyle Chess has already named Hans Niemann as its wildcard, recognising his outstanding show in the Las Vegas Grand Slam. FIDE will determine the final participant through an Online Qualification Tournament on Chess.com on January 14-15.
Format, Schedule, and Women's Chess Boost
The championship format mirrors the successful Freestyle Grand Slam events. It begins with a rapid round-robin stage on February 13, where all eight players face each other once. The top four advance to the knockout semifinals on February 14, culminating in the four-game final on February 15 to crown the champion.
In a parallel and welcome development for women's chess, a Women's Exhibition Match will be held alongside the main event in Weissenhaus. Furthermore, the agreement includes plans to launch the inaugural FIDE Women's Freestyle Chess Championship in late 2026, backed by a $50,000 prize fund financed by Freestyle Chess.
The total prize fund for the men's event is a substantial $300,000, with the winner taking home $100,000. Jan Henric Buettner, CEO of Freestyle Chess, stated that this championship represents the logical next step in building a serious competitive structure for the format, offering a defined title and a clear competitive peak.
