Gukesh’s coach questions way forward for Carlsen’s Freestyle Chess Tour: ‘There’s no assure’

D Gukesh’s head coach Grzegorz Gajewski has questioned the way forward for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour which was lately embroiled
in an argument with the Worldwide Chess Federation, FIDE. Gajewski’s feedback on Magnus Carlsen’s co-owned Freestyle Operations, which runs the Grand Slam Tour, got here whereas reacting to Gukesh’s poor efficiency in Stage 1 of the match.

Freestyle Tour and FIDE have been concerned in a heated battle lately over the latter’s plan to make use of “world champion” for its winner. The FIDE claimed that as the worldwide physique of chess solely they will award such a title. Additionally they requested gamers to signal a waiver earlier than participating within the Freestyle Tour, nonetheless, it later turned pointless because the Freestyle Tour determined towards utilizing the time period world champion.

They’ve determined to make use of
“Freestyle Chess Champion” and never “Freestyle Chess World Champion”.

Gajewski questions Freestyle Tour’s future

Stage 1 of the Freestyle Tour passed off in Germany earlier this month with chess world champion
Gukesh ending eighth whereas Germany’s Vincent Keymer received the primary leg. Keymer was additionally a part of Gukesh’s teaching staff throughout his profitable World Chess Championship 2024 marketing campaign towards Ding Liren late final yr.

Gukesh’s disappointing efficiency within the match that makes use of the Fischer Random variant highlighted the necessity for the 18-year-old to
enhance his tactical acumen and instinct on the board. Nonetheless, the Indian Grandmaster’s chief coach Gajewski continues to be unsure how a lot time Gukesh should dedicate in the direction of bettering his Freestyle sport as he nonetheless has rather a lot to earn in classical chess and there’s no assure on how lengthy the Freestyle Tour proceed.

“The query although is whether or not you need to alter and alter the best way you have a look at chess, as a result of, when you adapt to this format, it may probably backfire within the regular model of the sport. So, for us there’s a transparent downside of how a lot time we must always commit to Freestyle contemplating that Gukesh is so younger and there are such a lot of issues that he has but to be taught within the regular model of the sport,” Polish Grandmaster Gajewski advised the Hindustan Instances.

“We’re type of hesitant about which method we must always select for him as a result of as thrilling and recent Freestyle is, there’s no assure that in two years’ time there might be one other Grand Slam Tour and we don’t know through which route it’s headed,” he added.

Freestyle Tour has been pushed aggressively by world No. Carlsen who feels
classical chess has grow to be very predictable and the brand new match may help the game entice younger followers.

Classical chess might be extra vital: Gukesh

Gukesh, nonetheless, is assured that classical will stay the head of the game regardless of Freestyle Tour being a “good experiment”.

“I feel 960 is good as an experiment, however I don’t see it taking on classical chess. The Classical World Chess Championship cycle might be far more vital than 960, so I’m glad to experiment with the 960,” he advised ChessBase India.

The second leg of the Freestyle Tour might be performed in Paris in April. Apart from Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa from India may even be part of Stage 2.