FIDE CEO Slams Magnus Carlsen for Attacks on Viswanathan Anand After Controversial Rapid and Blitz Championship

FIDE CEO Slams Magnus Carlsen for Attacks on Viswanathan Anand: Grandmaster Emil Sutovsky of Israel is in a furious battle against Magnus Carlsen, the reigning World No. 1. The 47-old CEO of FIDE has transfixed the public on X, once Tweeted, through an incident tagged World Rapid Championship jeans scandal. The jeans scandal accused FIDE by Carlsen for threatening players to contest in the Freestyle Chess Tour that they would not be part of World C'ship cycle. Sutovsky protested in X to Carlsen's claims by denying that FIDE has threatened players and encouraging fans to ask D Gukesh, who also belongs to Freestyle Chess Players Club.

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Then Sutovsky attacked Carlsen on X again. Previously, he had also attacked after Carlsen had shared the World Blitz title with Ian Nepomniachtchi. He and the Russian Grandmaster played against each other in the final, but a sudden death could not determine the winner. In a now-viral video circulating on social media, Carlsen could be heard telling Ian, "Play short draws" if FIDE does not want them to share titles.

Towards the close of the year, the World rapid and blitz championship threw up a fun moment for Sutovsky in a backhanded take at Carlsen. First, he was like: why are streamers and media platforms intoning [downplaying] Carlsen's criticism of the chess legend Viswanathan Anand. It was told by the then world number one that the Indian had not fulfilled a requisite to be the deputy president of FIDE. Such cases make it easier for people who can attack streamers rather than face it with those fans in India, defending Anand, he said.

“It is funny how some platforms/streamers downplay the "we can just keep making draws" case. Exactly as they downplayed Magnus' attacks on Vishy 3 days before. As it did not happen. Of course it is easier to fight me than Indian fans. Of course now they will try to shift focus or pretend it was just a joke,” he wrote.

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Next, he moved on to dissection of Freestyle Chess Tour, where he indirectly lambasted Carlsen. Together with the German businessman Jan Buettner, Carlsen is a founding partner in the Grand Slam Tour.

It is funny how some platforms/streamers downplay the "we can just keep making draws" case.

Exactly as they downplayed Magnus' attacks on Vishy 3 days before. As it did not happen. Of course it is easier to fight me than Indian fans.

Of course now they will try to shift focus…

— Emilchess (@EmilSutovsky) January 2, 2025

“Entire PR strategy is in play. So, first you own the part of the major platform/company, then you employ influential people on your projects, then you invite players to the Tour you own based on your judgment, and then all these quasi-independents are on your side, and you can sort of do whatever you want. Not quite. Social Media can't be controlled, and it is all the rage. FIDE also won't keep silent. At least I won't - and I am there to stay for quite some time,” he added.

In December, FIDE and the FCPC approved complimentary recognition of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. This has been aided by personalities such as Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. Also, a press release from the FCPC indicated that discussions for an official freestyle world c'ship were taking place.

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