What is Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge? Magnus Carlsen announces new “format” of Chess competition

Chess Grandmaster and reigning World Number 1, Magnus Carlsen, has unveiled a fresh tournament titled the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge. Carlsen introduced the event via his official X account, describing it as a new format showcasing top GMs from around the globe. It is set to take place at the WEISSENHAUS Private Nature Luxury Resort (Germany), from February 9 to 16.

Although the competition will primarily occur face-to-face on the chessboard, it will also be broadcast live on the Chess.com website and YouTube page for viewers around the world to follow.

Magnus Carlsen has consistently voiced his disinterest in the current format of the World Chess Championship. This sentiment led to his decision to decline defending his title last year and to abstain from participating in the Candidates tournament in 2024.

Carlsen will now be joining other players in the upcoming Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge next month. True to its name, this event will not adhere strictly to conventional rules and will offer a format that diverges from classical chess norms.

Here are the rules:

In case there is a tie-break, this will be followed:

The games in the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge will follow the Fischer Random setup (Chess 960), where pieces are randomly shuffled at the start, allowing for unconventional starting positions (for example, the white Knight may be placed on C1 instead of its usual spot at B1).

Here's a screenshot of one of the possible set-ups:

While Magnus Carlsen is undoubtedly the headline player in the tournament, seven other Grandmasters from around the world will also participate in the event, including young players such as Alireza Firouzja and Gukesh D. Here are all the players set to participate:

World Number