Magnus Carlsen questioned the validity of classical chess as a measure of skill, favoring rapid chess. Gukesh acknowledged the quality of their championship match, while Carlsen ruled out a title clash.

D Gukesh is set to face Magnus Carlsen for the first time since becoming the world champion. Carlsen, one of the greatest players of all time, will face Gukesh in the classical format in Norway Chess 2025.

Carlsen, the world’s highest-rated chess player since 2010, will take a seat in Weissenhaus, Germany, to compete in freestyle chess, previously known as Chess960 and Fischer Random. The starting position of the back row pieces is randomized, removing a top grandmaster’s lifetime of memorization and theory on how to open a chess game.

Magnus Carlsen criticised FIDE after co-founding Freestyle Chess Players Club with Jan Henric Beuttner, which led to a dispute over the term "World Championship". Carlsen supports Beuttner's stance that their new tour shouldn't replace traditional championships but should have its unique format.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) issued a comprehensive statement on Monday following the news that no agreement had been reached between FIDE and Freestyle Chess over the use of the “World Championship.

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour boss Jan Henric Buettner and all-time great Magnus Carlsen have called on International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Arkady Dvorkovich to resign after talks over an agreement about the new series fell through.

This isn't just another chess tournament though, with a public spat between Carlsen and the promoters of the FCGT with FIDE in the build-up to the tournament.