Something big is happening in the world of chess — and it kicks off today, April 7, in Paris! The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour is officially underway, and it’s not your grandpa’s chess tournament. This is Chess960 — wild, unpredictable, and packed with star power.
So, What Is Freestyle Chess (aka Chess960)?
Imagine a game of chess where all your favorite pieces are there... but shuffled! That’s Freestyle Chess, or Chess960, a variant dreamed up by Bobby Fischer himself. The twist? The back-rank pieces (rooks, knights, bishops, queen, king) start in a randomized order — with 960 possible configurations. No more memorized openings or ten-move prep battles. It’s about pure calculation, creativity, and adapting on the fly. Every game begins with a fresh puzzle.
In short: it’s chaos, and it’s awesome.
The Players Are 🔥
The lineup in Paris is straight-up stacked. We’re talking about Magnus Carlsen, the biggest name in the game, plus reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Also in the mix: Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (playing on home turf!), Vincent Keymer, Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujarathi, Richard Rapport, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
A mix of rising stars, seasoned legends, and world champs — all ready to throw down over a massive $750,000 prize pool, with $200,000 going to the winner.
The Venue & Format
The action’s taking place at the elegant Pavillon Chesnaie du Roy in the heart of Paris’ Bois de Vincennes. First up: two days of round-robin matchups, where each player faces off in rapid time control battles. Then, the top eight move on to a high-stakes knockout stage using classical time controls.
Long story short: fast-paced fireworks first, then a slow-burn finale full of tension and depth.
What’s Next on the Tour?
Once the Paris dust settles, all eyes will shift to the Grenke Freestyle Chess Open in Karlsruhe, Germany (April 17–21), which is expected to break participation records. It’s open to the public and will serve as a qualifier for the next Grand Slam event in New York City this July. Carlsen and Keymer are already signed up. You won’t want to miss it.
Why This Matters
Freestyle Chess is shaking up the chess world — not just for the players, but for fans too. With opening theory out the window, anything can happen. We’re seeing raw calculation, real-time problem-solving, and more decisive games.
Whether you're a longtime chess fan or new to the scene, now’s the time to tune in. Freestyle Chess is fast, fresh, and full of surprises.
The mind games have officially begun. Let’s go!
Want live updates and game highlights? Head to: https://www.freestyle-chess.com
Photo: “Nodirbek Abdusattorov in 2023” by Frans Peeters, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
