What Is Freestyle Chess and Why It's Shaking Up the Game?
Discover the format, winners, prize money, and star players of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour.
Freestyle Chess—also known as Chess960—is turning the traditional chess world on its head. Unlike classical chess, Freestyle randomises the back-rank pieces before every game, eliminating memorized openings and forcing players to rely on raw creativity, calculation, and adaptability. The format has quickly gained traction, drawing in fans and elite Grandmasters alike, thanks to its unpredictability and high entertainment value.
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025 is a global series of elite tournaments structured to challenge even the best. Here's how it works:
Online Qualifiers
Two 9-round Swiss rapid events (10+2 time control)
Top 3 from each qualifier advance to Grand Slam legs
Main Event Format
Tour Venues: From Germany to South Africa
1. Weissenhaus, Germany (Feb 7–14)
2. Paris, France (Apr 7–14)
3. Karlsruhe, Germany (Grenke Open) (Apr 17–21)
4. Las Vegas, USA (July 16–20)
5. Cape Town, South Africa – Grand Slam Final (Dec 5–12)
Star Power: Who's Playing?
The Tour features a who's who of the chess elite:
Winners So Far: Who's Dominating?
Weissenhaus: Vincent Keymer – Beat elite field to shock the world
Paris: Magnus Carlsen – Defeated Nakamura in final (1½–½)
Karlsruhe: Magnus Carlsen – Perfect 9/9 score
Las Vegas: Ongoing –
Tour Points System & Rankings
Players earn points per leg as follows:
25 – 18 – 15 – 12 – 10 – 8 – 6 – 4 – 2 – 1. These accumulate toward overall standings, with the final in Cape Town deciding the Tour Champion.
Prize Money: Big Stakes, Big Payouts
Key Highlights
Who's Behind the Tour?
The tour is the brainchild of Magnus Carlsen and Jan Henric Büttner, German entrepreneur and media figure. Together, they launched Freestyle Chess Operations to bring chess to mainstream entertainment.
What's Next?
Las Vegas leg ends this week
Cape Town Grand Final (Dec 5–12)
2026 plans: expand to five continents with $1M events
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
20 minutes ago
- News18
Sara Ali Khan's Heel Breaks On Red Carpet At Ibrahim's Film Premiere; Watch What She Did
Last Updated: Sara Ali Khan's heel broke on the red carpet at SarZameen premiere. She fixed it with Fevicol and returned confidently, leaving fans impressed. Sara Ali Khan had an unexpected red carpet moment at the premiere of her brother Ibrahim Ali Khan's debut film SarZameen, but she handled it like a pro. Dressed in an elegant all-black co-ord set, Sara was walking towards the red carpet when one of her heels suddenly came off and broke. Rather than getting flustered, Sara calmly stepped aside with the help of a woman and went back to get the heel fixed. In a moment that amused both fans and paparazzi, Sara used Fevicol to reattach the heel. The actress then made a confident return to the red carpet and resumed posing for the cameras as if nothing had happened. View this post on Instagram A post shared by F I L M Y G Y A N (@filmygyan) As the paparazzi joked, 'Fevicol laga lo," Sara playfully responded, 'Laga li hai." The clip of the incident quickly went viral, with fans praising Sara for her chill attitude and confidence. 'Even celebs have shoe mishaps," one amused user commented. Others appreciated how she didn't feel awkward or try to hide the moment, turning it instead into a fun, candid memory. Sara later posed alongside Ibrahim on the red carpet and cheered for her brother's big debut. The event marked a proud moment for the Khan family, and Sara's presence added both glamour and a dose of relatability. Directed by Kayoze Irani, SarZameen is an upcoming OTT film that releases on July 25 on JioHotstar. The film stars Ibrahim Ali Khan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Kajol in key roles. According to the official synopsis, the story follows a father who refuses to bow down to threats, and a son who is given up for the nation. It is a gripping tale of a family torn apart by the deeds and secrets of the past. First Published: July 24, 2025, 22:46 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
How Did Hulk Hogan Pass Away? Decoding The WWE Legend's Cause Of Death
Last Updated: Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, has died at 71. Emergency responders were called to his Clearwater, Florida home for a cardiac emergency. Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71, according to a report from TMZ. Emergency responders were dispatched to Hogan's residence in Clearwater, Florida, early Thursday morning following a call reporting a cardiac emergency. While no official statement has been released by Hogan's family, early indications suggest the cause of death was cardiac arrest. A Storied Wrestling Career Born Terry Gene Bollea, Hogan began his professional wrestling journey in 1977. He rose to global superstardom after joining the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1983. During his prime, Hogan was one of wrestling's most recognizable faces. He headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania events and helped bring professional wrestling into mainstream pop culture. After leaving the WWF in 1993, he explored a career in film and television but remained a dominant figure in sports entertainment. Over the course of his storied career, Hogan captured the WWF/WWE Championship six times. His contributions to the industry were honored with two inductions into the WWE Hall of Fame. While Hogan's time in the ring brought fame and fortune, it also came with significant physical consequences. Over the past decade alone, he reportedly underwent 26 surgeries, including ten on his back. The wear and tear stemmed from wrestling during the sport's physically punishing 'golden age" in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Beyond his spine, Hogan had operations on his eyes, stomach, knees, hips, and shoulders. In 2013, he filed a $50 million lawsuit against the Laser Spine Institute, alleging that the facility convinced him to undergo 'unnecessary and ineffective" spinal surgeries. In recent months, rumors about Hogan's declining health had circulated online. However, his representatives consistently pushed back against exaggerated claims. They confirmed that Hogan had undergone spinal fusion and heart procedures, but stressed that none were life-threatening. Despite his medical history, Hogan remained active and resilient. Just last month, he was hospitalized for neck and back issues and underwent a cervical fusion procedure, described by his team as a 'minor" surgery. Following the operation, speculation that he was on his 'deathbed" spread rapidly. These claims were quickly refuted by Hogan's camp, which reassured fans that he was recovering well. But alas, it seems as if the wrestling world has now lost a legend. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Shilpa Shirodkar Says Husband Called Her 'Mad'; Kiara Advani Drops BTS Pic Ahead Of War 2 Trailer Launch
Shilpa Shirodkar says husband called her 'mad' for using just 3 ingredients post-Bigg Boss 18; Kiara Advani shares rare BTS pic from War 2 with Hrithik Roshan and Ayan Mukerji. Actor Shilpa Shirodkar, who starred in hits like Hum, Aankhen, and Khuda Gawah, has opened up about her new way of life post her Bigg Boss 18 stint. Shilpa mentioned that after staying in the Bigg Boss 18 house, she doesn't spend much time in the kitchen and only uses three ingredients to cook her food. This move even left her husband surprised. Kiara Advani is entering a new phase in both her personal and professional lives. While she is experiencing the joy of motherhood on one hand, on the other is the release of her first high-octane action film, War 2, co-starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. A day before the film's trailer release, Kiara posted a rare behind-the-scenes photo from War 2 shoot, featuring Hrithik and the film's director, Ayan Mukerji. It appears that Yash Raj Films has discovered its latest rising star in Saiyaara debutant Ahaan Panday. According to industry rumours, Aditya Chopra is so impressed by Ahaan's dedication and potential that he is already drawing comparisons to former YRF protégé Ranveer Singh. For the uninitiated, Ranveer made his Bollywood debut with YRF-backed Band Bajaa Baaraat in 2010, opposite Anushka Sharma. Yuzvendra Chahal marked a memorable 35th birthday in London while playing for Northamptonshire, and the intimate celebration stirred romance talk online. Videos from the night show Chahal and his rumoured girlfriend, RJ Mahvash sharing a warm hug as momentarily a handful of guests cheered them on. Rashmika Mandanna praised her Animal co-star Ranbir Kapoor in a new interview. Recently, the actress was speaking to Mashable India when she recalled shooting with Ranbir for the Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial. Rashmika was shown a selfie she took on the sets with Ranbir Kapoor when she talked about the same and called the latter 'supportive and kind". First Published: July 24, 2025, 22:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
