Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard criticized the evolution of Freestyle Chess tournaments in a post on X. He stated the events have lost their serious classical format and significance.

Jacob Aagaard

Jacob Aagaard

Danish-Scottish Grandmaster

“I really wanted the Freestyle tournaments to be a success… The things I remember most from the past year is a video where a private conversation with Firouzja is represented in great detail… Nakamura saying he lost interest and a change of the time control, making it yet another casual event of no significance.”

Peter Heine Nielsen, Magnus Carlsen’s trainer, publicly disagreed with this assessment in his reply on X.

Peter Heine Nielsen

Peter Heine Nielsen

Magnus Carlsen's trainer

“I completely disagree. It has been an amazing journey into chess as its finest. The world’s best players getting the chance to battle it out without having to care about memorizing computer preparations, but having to solve very complex strategical problems over the board.”

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam 2025 took place in Germany, France, the USA and South Africa. Magnus Carlsen secured the first place in the final standings, Levon Aronian won the Finals in Cape Town on December 11, 2025.

Credit: Freestyle Chess