Magnus Carlsen and Jan Henric Buettner Raise $12 Million to Revolutionize Chess with Freestyle Chess

Magnus Carlsen, the renowned chess player, and Jan Henric Buettner, an investor, have recently announced their new venture called Freestyle Chess. The duo has managed to secure €10 million or approximately $12 million in funding from Left Lane Capital for this project. The aim of Freestyle Chess is to revolutionize the world of chess by introducing a new tournament series that follows Fischer random rules, where the player’s back row is randomized.

The event series will feature nine Super Grand Masters, handpicked by Carlsen from the 25 members of the Freestyle Chess Players Club. The founders have already organized the first event in February and plan to host six-to-eight more tournaments throughout the year in different locations. The first three tournaments will offer $750,000 in prizes, while the remaining events will offer $1 million.

According to Carlsen, chess needs to evolve into a more dynamic and captivating spectacle that allows players to showcase their skills from the first move. He believes that modern chess variants like Fischer Random will shape the future of the game and bring about more thrilling gameplay. In addition to the tournament series, Freestyle Chess intends to use the funding to enhance its digital experience, hire additional staff, and increase marketing efforts.

Harley Miller, the CEO and managing partner of Left Lane, expressed his belief in the potential of Freestyle Chess. He compared it to mainstream sporting spectacles like Formula 1 or ATP Tennis, stating that when the best athletes in the world compete at the highest standard of play with avant-garde storytelling and showmanship, something of great consequence is created.

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Overall, the introduction of Freestyle Chess and its new tournament series is set to bring a fresh and dynamic approach to the game. With the support of Left Lane Capital and the vision of Magnus Carlsen, the future of chess looks promising. By embracing modern chess variants and incorporating digital experiences, Freestyle Chess has the potential to captivate a wider audience and become a mainstream sporting spectacle.