"One year ago, the world No 1, Magnus Carlsen, and the global chess body, Fide, were at loggerheads after the Norwegian was penalised for wearing jeans at the World Rapid in New York. The 35-year-old also agreed to share the World Blitz crown despite a rule requiring an outright winner. Relations worsened further when Fide opposed Carlsen's wish for the new Freestyle circuit winner to be called a world champion, he announced that he was done with Fide."
"When Carlsen clinched the Freestyle Tour crown with two days to spare, the most significant congratulations came from the Fide president, Arkady Dvorkovich. He said: The new brand [Freestyle chess] has the potential to be a success story, and we are open to collaborating in a mutually beneficial way Fide recognises [Magnus Carlsen] as the No 1 in the world in this exciting version of chess."
"The field for Doha is strong, with more than 200 players entered for both Rapid and Blitz. They include the official world champions Gukesh Dommaraju and, for the women's titles, Ju Wenjun, the US quartet of Fabiano Caruana, So, Levon Aronian and Hans Niemann, as well as rising talents like Argentina's Faustino Oro and Turkey's Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, and legends like Vasyl Ivanchuk."
Magnus Carlsen and Fide clashed over a jeans penalty at the World Rapid and a shared World Blitz crown, and relations worsened when Fide opposed naming the Freestyle circuit winner a world champion. Carlsen announced he was done with Fide but later clinched the Freestyle Tour, prompting Fide president Arkady Dvorkovich to congratulate him and recognise him as the No 1 in Freestyle chess while expressing openness to collaboration. Ahead of Doha, jeans will be allowed and title rules have been clarified. Carlsen is clear favourite for the Rapid, the Blitz appears more open, and over 200 entrants will compete.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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