Latest news with #JanHenricBuettner
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Delhi leg of Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour could be cancelled because of lack of interest from sponsors
The fourth leg of the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour, scheduled to be held in Delhi from September 17 to 24, could be moved to another venue outside India because of lack of interest from local sponsors, The Indian Express has learnt. 'We've always communicated that we'll only go to foreign countries or other cities where local sponsors are willing to contribute significantly. India would have been a great place because there are so many great players and we love all the players. But I am wondering why despite a lot of rich people in India and a lot of interest in chess, nobody has come forward yet,' Jan Henric Buettner, the man behind the Freestyle Chess tour, said on Friday. 'In Las Vegas, we're getting around $2 million from sponsors. But in India, despite my efforts to generate interest, no one has come forward to support the event. Without financial backing from India, there's no reason for us to go,' Buettner, a German entrepreneur, told The Indian Express. The relationship between the Freestyle Tour organisers and FIDE, the global chess body, is strained. FIDE had objected to the unauthorised use of official titles like 'World Champion' in the Freestyle Tour. FIDE also has a strong relationship with the All India Chess Federation (AICF) as former five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand is the world body's vice president. After the first two legs in Weissenhaus and Paris legs, the tour will move to its third leg in Las Vegas from July 16 to 20. It will be preceded by a three-day 'Chesstival' starting July 13, featuring a knockout-style celebrity chess tournament with current and former NBA stars. The Freestyle Tour in the U.S., set to take place at the Wynn Las Vegas, will also allow fans to watch the event live at the venue for the first time. The Freestyle Tour recently raised $20 million from investors, including former NBA MVP Derrick Rose, who will participate in the Las Vegas Chess Festival. Buettner explained the costs and partnerships expected from host cities. 'One Freestyle Grand Slam event costs about $4 million. Right now, we're covering 50% through sponsorships in the U.S., but from the next event, we'll aim for 60-65%,' he said. Buettner is still hopeful of generating sponsorship money from India. 'If a sponsor in India is willing to contribute $2.5 million… either in cash or kind… we'll cover the remaining $1.5 million. We'd also let the Indian sponsor handle regional marketing and keep all local revenue. We would not take any part of the revenue from the regional revenue in India,' he added. Buettner said that there is 'interest' from other countries willing to host the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour 'I've just stated facts… not disappointed at all. I'm very happy to go to India but first, I need somebody from India to raise their hand and say here we are, we do it together. We have a lot of other interests from the Middle East, from China, and from other countries and cities where we would expand next time like Australia, for example,' said Buettner. As earlier reported by this newspaper, the U.S. leg will feature 45-minute games with a 10-second increment per move, instead of the previous 90-minute games with a 30-second increment. The shorter format aims to condense the event from eight days to five, with both legs of a round played on the same day. Players will now compete in two 45-minute games with reversed colours in a single day, rather than spreading them over two days. The Paris leg featured four Indians — D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi — among the 10 players. Germany's Vincent Keymer won the Weissenhaus leg, while Magnus Carlsen dominated Paris to claim the second event and lead the tour after the first two legs.
Business Wire
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Freestyle Chess' Grand Slam Tour Will Make its U.S. Debut at Wynn Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Freestyle Chess, the innovative chess league co-founded by Magnus Carlsen and Jan Henric Buettner that prioritizes creativity over memorization, will bring their Grand Slam Tour to the United States for the first time this July. The event, hosted at Wynn Las Vegas, will kick off with 'Chesstival' on July 13, featuring current and former NBA players in a knockout-style chess tournament. Thanks to a partnership with $50,000 in total prize money will be donated to the charity of the winners' choice. The Grand Slam Tournament will follow from July 16 through July 20. 'Wynn Las Vegas offers an unparalleled stage to introduce Freestyle's high-energy, immersive format to the U.S. – not just as a game of strategy, but as a world-class spectator experience,' said Jan Henric Buettner, CEO and co-founder of Freestyle Chess. For the first time, chess fans can experience Freestyle Chess live, as the 2025 Grand Slam Tournament opens ticket sales to the public. Hosted in Wynn's 50,000-square-foot Lafite Ballroom, the event will bring the tour's dynamic energy to life with immersive production, live commentary, and storytelling. Fans can choose from three ticket tiers: general admission, VIP, and private booths with player meet-and-greets – designed to offer a world-class experience. Tickets start at $90 and are available for purchase here. 'I really believe Chesstival is one of the biggest paradigm shifts, along with Freestyle Chess, that the chess world has ever seen, and I think they're going to help grow the game,' said former NBA MVP and investor in Freestyle Chess, Derrick Rose. The event follows Freestyle Chess raising $20 million in funding from venture capital firms such as Left Lane Capital, as well as athletes like Derrick Rose to support the expansion of its operations and global footprint. The league features top-ranked players such as five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, reigning World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, and former World Rapid Champion Hikaru Nakamura. Each Grand Slam Tournament event offers $750,000 in prize money, setting a new benchmark for chess as a global sport. The championship at the end of the tour will crown the first Freestyle Chess Champion, marking a historic milestone in the evolution of the game. Following the rules of Chess960 (Fischer Random), which randomizes starting positions, Freestyle Chess emphasizes creativity and strategy, leveling the playing field for even the world's best players. For more information, please visit the Freestyle Chess website here. About Freestyle Chess Freestyle Chess was founded in 2024 by Magnus Carlsen and Jan Henric Buettner, to revolutionize the game of chess. Capitalizing on the boom of interest in the sport, Freestyle Chess incorporates a unique style of gameplay featuring Fischer Random and follows the players' heart rates throughout the matches. Working to democratize the sport, matches are available for free online, and players participate in press conferences and post-match interviews, keeping the company's events exciting for all audiences. This year, Freestyle Chess kicked off its Grand Slam tournaments in Germany, France with upcoming stops in the United States and South Africa.
