Chess960 Match to Precede World Championship Clash
Ahead of the highly anticipated World Championship match between D. Gukesh and reigning champion Ding Liren, chess enthusiasts will be treated to a captivating Chess960 encounter between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana in Singapore on November 21-22.
Chess960, also known as Fischer Random, is a variant of chess where the pieces on the home rank are arranged semi-randomly, fostering less reliance on theory and encouraging more unconventional play. The match is organized by German entrepreneur Jan Buettner, who launched the inaugural Freestyle Chess tournament in Germany earlier this year.
The Carlsen-Caruana match is expected to take place at the Supertree Grove, overlooking Marina Bay Sands, creating a visually stunning backdrop. “It’s going to make for spectacular pictures,” Buettner said. “We want to make it as big as possible.”
Carlsen and Caruana previously faced off in the 2018 World Championship match, which ended in a historic 12 consecutive draws in the classical games. Carlsen ultimately prevailed in the rapid tie-break, making it one of the closest World Championship encounters in history.
Buettner expressed Carlsen’s eagerness for a rematch, saying, “Magnus is happy to have a rematch. And who can forget the 12 draws at the World Championship between them?”
Next year, Buettner plans to launch a Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour, a series of Chess960 tournaments across five continents. India is a potential destination in Asia, with New Delhi being a preferred location.
Just days after the Carlsen-Caruana match, Gukesh will embark on his quest to become the youngest-ever world chess champion when he faces Ding in a 14-game classical match starting on November 25. While Ding has faced recent struggles, Gukesh has impressed with his exceptional performance at the recent Olympiad. However, Ding’s experience in World Championship matches could prove invaluable.
