Exclusive: Why no Hikaru? Inside new FIDE Freestyle Chess Championship

FIDE and Freestyle Chess ended a long-running dispute over world championship authority by agreeing to stage the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship. The conflict began in late 2024 over title rights, sparking public clashes and player concerns. A renewed dialogue in 2025 led to reconciliation, aligning Freestyle’s tour with FIDE governance and creating a unified championship framework.