India, Jan. 30 -- The chess world has become like a reality television show since last month, with FIDE at war with Magnus Carlsen's Freestyle Grand Slam Tour. In December last year, the FIDE and Freestyle Chess Players' Club (FCPC) reached an agreement, where the international body officially recognised the Freestyle Tour. But the bone of contention lies in the FCPC co-founders Magnus Carlsen and Jan Henric Buettner also wanting to start an official Freestyle World Championship, without interference from FIDE.

In an interview with VG recently, FCPC co-owner Buettner, who is a German entrepreneur, lashed out at FIDE and alleged that the body was asking for 500,000 dollars for the rights to use the world c'ship title. Buettner also stated...