Breaking Update: Here’s a clear explanation of the latest developments related to Breaking News:Freestyle Chess Partners With FIDE To Stage Official World Championship In February– What Just Happened and why it matters right now.
Freestyle Chess and FIDE have agreed to join forces to stage the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship, scheduled for February 13–15, 2026, in Weissenhaus, Germany.
The surprise announcement was made on Wednesday, just over one month before the event is scheduled to take place at the five-star luxury resort on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast. The event will feature a $300,000 prize fund, with the winner cashing in $100,000.
FIDE announced that six players have already qualified through their results on the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour:
Two additional players will be nominated separately, but Freestyle Chess has already selected GM Hans Niemann, due to his performance in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam event in Las Vegas. The final spot will be decided via a Play-In on Chess.com, scheduled to take place on January 14–15 (more details will be shared in a separate announcement).
The first official FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship to be hosted in Weissenhaus
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Freestyle Chess Operations GmbH have agreed to stage the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship in Weissenhaus, Germany, from… pic.twitter.com/jtPoEYwSC1
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) January 7, 2026
The event will take place in the matter of just three days:
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Friday, Feb. 13: Rapid round-robin (10+5). Top four advance to Semifinals.
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Saturday, Feb. 14: Semifinals and placement matches (25+10), with four-game semifinal matches.
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Sunday, Feb. 15: Four-game Final and remaining placement matches (25+10).
All final positions from first to eighth will be decided over the board.
The eight-player World Championship is the first world championship event in the chess variant since FIDE’s two earlier Fischer Random World Championships, last held in 2022 (won by GM Hikaru Nakamura) and 2019 (won by GM Wesley So).
The cooperation between FIDE and the privately run Freestyle Chess organization marks a shift compared to the public feud that began in 2024 and lasted well into 2025. The Grand Slam Tour, co-founded by Carlsen and German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner, wanted to crown a “Freestyle Chess World Champion” without the approval of the world governing chess body.
Carlsen expressed frustration with how FIDE handled the situation, accusing the federation of threatening players who participated in the Freestyle Tour with potential exclusion from future classical World Championship cycles. After withdrawing from the 2024 World Rapid Championship, he declared that he was “at full war with FIDE.”
In Wednesday’s announcement, FIDE emphasized that the new cooperation agreement establishes clear authority, stating that “no event may be designated as an official ‘World Chess Championship’ in any format, including Freestyle Chess, without the prior written consent of FIDE.”
“This World Championship and signed cooperation agreement bring FIDE and Freestyle Chess together within a clear and transparent sporting framework,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE. “It is important that elite competition in this format is governed under established international standards administered by FIDE as the sole governing body of world chess.”
It is important that elite competition in this format is governed under established international standards administered by FIDE as the sole governing body of world chess.
—Arkady Dvorkovich
“Our aim from the outset was to build a serious competitive structure, not isolated events,” said Jan Henric Buettner, CEO of Freestyle Chess. “After completing our first Grand Slam season, a World Championship in cooperation with FIDE is the logical next step—a defined title, a fixed venue, and a clear competitive peak.”
Speaking to Chess.com, Buettner added, “This is great for players, fans, spectators, and everybody,” and said, “I am very happy about this agreement. I have been very close with Arkady, but at some point our relationship was falling apart, I don’t know for what reason. I am glad that we are back on track.”
“It’s for the mutual benefit of everyone,” Buettner added. “Ultimately, we want to be part of the chess ecosystem.”
Buettner said the plan is to still hold a reduced 2026 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, noting, “Season 2 will not start in Weissenhaus, but with Grenke Freestyle Open in Karlsruhe. We haven’t committed for a full tour in 2026 because we are going to see how this is playing out.”
We haven’t committed for a full tour in 2026 because we are going to see how this is playing out.
—Jan Henric Buettner
Notably absent from the players’ list is the reigning Fischer Random World Champion, Hikaru Nakamura, who declined his invitation and shared the following statement with Chess.com:
A few months ago I was invited to the first leg of the 2026 Freestyle Tour with the same format and prize fund. I let everyone know that I’d be playing there.
Just a few days ago I received news that there will be no year-long tour for Freestyle. The format for the only event to be held will be only three days and only rapid formats. Instead of the tour that was planned, Freestyle has joined forces with FIDE and are now calling it a World Championship. I think it might hold the record for most rushed arrangement for a World Championship title in history.
I truly enjoyed the first event in Weissenhaus in 2025, and it’s a shame that the classical length format wasn’t continued. Furthermore, this all feels like a hastily arranged tournament with less than 1/3rd the prize fund it originally had, and now it’s attached to FIDE, which isn’t a positive development in my opinion.
Despite many phone calls and messages from the organizer, I have decided to decline my slot in this event. I have an important tournament in the end of March/April to focus on, and that is where my attention will be.
I have decided to decline my slot in this event. I have an important tournament in the end of March/April to focus on, and that is where my attention will be.
—Hikaru Nakamura
The announcement also includes news about a Women’s Exhibition Match between two top players that will run alongside the main event in Weissenhaus. The parties also confirmed plans for a the first FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship in late 2026, featuring a $50,000 prize fund.