Carlsen, Tour Boss Demand FIDE President's Resignation Over Championship Dispute

Magnus Carlsen has called for the resignation of FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich following a breakdown in negotiations regarding the Freestyle Chess Tour, which Carlsen co-founded. Carlsen accused Dvorkovich of coercing players and breaking promises, particularly regarding a new requirement for players to sign a waiver to maintain eligibility for the official World Championship cycle. Dvorkovich had previously assured that players would not be affected by FIDE's decisions, but FIDE later insisted the waiver was necessary for participating in the Tour. In response to the turmoil, the Freestyle Tour decided to postpone awarding the 'World Champion' title to avoid pressuring players with the waiver. Buettner, the Tour's co-founder, criticized FIDE as incompetent and suggested they would move forward independently. FIDE maintains that the waiver is a one-time exception, not additional requirements.