Jan Henric Buettner launches Freestyle Chess to revitalize the game with new tournament tour

Jan Henric Buettner has introduced "Freestyle Chess," a variant where the starting positions of pieces are shuffled, aiming to make chess more exciting. He found traditional chess tournaments unengaging and sought to challenge this perception. Buettner partnered with five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen to develop the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. Their collaboration began after they met in Qatar in October 2023, with Carlsen seeking new challenges in chess. Following a successful pilot tournament at Buettner's luxury resort in 2024, the 2025 tour expands to five cities, including New York and Paris. Buettner's ambition for Freestyle Chess continues to grow, moving beyond the initial event concept.