Magnus Carlsen has made it clear that he won't be playing in the FIDE events anymore and will be focus more on his project Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. After spending the past two months battling against the world governing body of chess, FIDE, Carlsen's comment is not surprising. However, Carsen has insisted that he is not trying to take down classical chess with his Freestyle chess project. The feud between the former World Champion and FIDE started after the launch of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grandslam. "FIDE has actually 'backed out.' What I can say now is that the relationship that my team and I have with FIDE is pretty destroyed. At least with the current administration," Magnus Carlsen told Norwegian TV network TV2. "What I can say now is that the relationship that my team and I have with FIDE is pretty destroyed. At least with the current administration." Magnus Carlsen said that for now he won't be participating in the World Rapid & Blitz Championships, scheduled for Doha, Qatar, in December. If he pulls out from the event then it will be the first time since 2013 that the event will take place without Magnus Carlsen. "As it is now, it's completely out of the question," he added. Talking about the bitter battle between FIDE and Freestyle Chess, Carlsen told ChessBase India: “Generally unfortunate what has happened. Happy to focus now on the tournament. Things could have been resolved at an earlier point. Right now it is very hard to have a relationship with any of the FIDE leadership. Speaking for myself and my father.”
