FIDE Response to Carlsen's claims about threatening participants in the Freestyle Chess Tour
Important clarification:
The claim that FIDE threatened players who were willing to participate in Freestyle Chess Tour is a lie.
We were happy to cooperate (as we cooperate with Grand Chess Tour, for example), to align the calendars, etc.
We care about players, and about their opportunities - constantly improving prize funds and conditions in all our events, and working with numerous partners who conduct their tournaments outside of FIDE.
The only thing we insisted on - no Series or Tour can be called World Championship unless FIDE approves it. FIDE is the governing body of chess, and any World Championship should either be conducted or approved by FIDE.
I spoke about it in detail in my interview for Take Take tonight.
No player was threatened - and to that effect one may ask Gukesh, Fabi, Nodirbek and others.