Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour Cancels Delhi Event Due to Sponsorship Issues
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour has officially called off its fifth event, previously scheduled for September in Delhi, due to a lack of sponsorship. Jan Henric Buettner, the tour’s co-founder, announced the cancellation to Chess.com. This news follows the recent removal of the Delhi event from the tour’s official website, sparking speculation about its status.
Initially, this event was set to be the fifth in the inaugural Grand Slam series, following successful tournaments in Weissenhaus, Paris, and Karlsruhe. Currently, Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen is leading the pack with 65 points after two event victories.
Carlsen is expected to be a key participant in the upcoming event in Las Vegas, scheduled for July 16-20. Recently, he was seen competing against nine-year-old Aarit Kapil from Delhi, who nearly succeeded in defeating the world’s top player.
When asked about a potential replacement for the canceled Delhi event, Buettner offered a somewhat vague response, hinting that something special might take place instead. He stated, "Yes and no," indicating that plans are still in the works for an exciting announcement to come after the Las Vegas event.
Buettner also shared his intentions to step down from his role as CEO. He mentioned his desire to transition into a more executive position, with his official exit as CEO set for July 1. He expressed his commitment to ensuring that everything he envisions for the tour is implemented before making this shift.
What’s Next for India’s Chess Stars?
With the cancellation of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour event, the next major competition for India’s chess talent will be the Chennai Grand Masters, starting on August 6. This tournament will feature a 10-player round-robin format, showcasing notable Grandmasters such as Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, Anish Giri, and Vincent Keymer, among others.
Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting chess events!
