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:
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