In a major blow to India’s chess ambitions, the much-anticipated Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour event scheduled for September in New Delhi has been officially cancelled due to lack of sponsorship, leaving fans and players disappointed. The decision was confirmed by Jan Henric Buettner, co-founder and outgoing CEO of Freestyle Chess, who cited persistent funding challenges despite repeated outreach to Indian sponsors.
♟️ India Leg Axed: What Went Wrong?
- The Delhi event was to be the fifth leg of the inaugural Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, following successful tournaments in Weissenhaus, Paris, and Karlsruhe
- Despite India’s booming chess scene, no sponsors came forward, forcing organizers to pull the plug
- Buettner told Chess.com, “India will not happen this year,” confirming months of speculation
🌍 Global Tour Continues Without India
- The next leg will now take place in Las Vegas from July 16–20, featuring top stars like Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Vincent Keymer
- The tour will conclude in Cape Town (December 5–12)
- Indian prodigies Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi will compete in Las Vegas, but World Champion D Gukesh is skipping the event due to fatigue
🧭 CEO Transition and Future Plans
- Buettner will step down as CEO on July 1, transitioning to an executive chairman role
- Thomas Harsch, the current COO, will take over daily operations
- Buettner hinted at a “special replacement event” for September, to be announced after Las Vegas
📌 Why It Matters
- The cancellation underscores the fragile sponsorship ecosystem in Indian chess, despite its rising global stature
- Fans miss out on a rare chance to see Magnus Carlsen vs. D Gukesh on home soil
- The setback raises questions about India’s readiness to host elite chess formats like Freestyle Chess, which blends creativity with randomized openings
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