Fischer Random is the future of chess: World No.4 Erigaisi

The 21-year-old GM in this interview says the Magnus Carlsen-backed format will grow in popularity in the coming years

- Susan Ninan

BENGALURU: Power struggles between the world chess governing body, Fide, and Magnus Carlsen-backed Freestyle Chess Tour aside, Fischer Random is the future of chess, believes Arjun Erigaisi.

"Chess is exciting right now with lots of different kinds of tournaments. Events like the World Championship have always been Fide's main event, then there's the Grand Swiss and World Cup," said the Indian world No.4.

"The Freestyle Tour (Fischer Random format) seems very exciting with tournaments across continents and players like Magnus, Hikaru (Nakamura) and Fabiano (Caruana) participating. I'll be part of some Tour events, for sure. I'll be playing the Paris edition. Even if it's (Fischer Random) not the immediate future, it's surely the future of chess, maybe for the next generation," Arjun told HT in an interview.

In Fischer Random, the starting positions of pieces on the back rank are randomised, minimising the role of opening theory.

"I don't know too many details about the clashes (between Fide and Freestyle Chess) so I don't have much to comment about it (World Championship title). But it's definitely effective if there are no complications as such."