Fischer Random Chess, or Freestyle Chess, that is the question

As you may know, February will mark the start of the first of five planned tournaments in the Fischer Random Chess format, now called the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. This series, co-founded by five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen and German investor Jan Henrik Büttner, will consist of five major tournaments. Points will be awarded for each event, and the player with the highest score at the end of the year will be crowned the world champion in "Freestyle Chess".

The first stage will take place from February 7 to 14 in Germany, at the elite Weissenhaus resort near the village of Wangels. The other four tournaments are scheduled for Paris (April), New York (July), New Delhi (September), and Cape Town (December).

The roster for the first event is stellar: the legendary Magnus Carlsen, elite players Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Levon Aronian, the newly crowned world champion Gukesh alongside his mentor Viswanathan Anand, rising stars Alireza Firouzja and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Germany’s own Vincent Keymer, and an unexpected qualifier, Russian-born Vladimir Fedoseev, who now represents Slovenia.
The total prize fund for the Grand Slam is an impressive $12 million.
On the surface, everything seems perfect: the promotion of Fischer Random Chess, the exceptional lineup of players, and the exciting locations. However, there is a bitter aftertaste to this otherwise sweet concoction: the choice of the name "Freestyle Chess."

The Legacy of Fischer

Fischer Random Chess, or Chess 960, was created by Bobby Fischer in 1996. His goal was simple yet revolutionary: to bring creativity back to chess by minimizing the impact of opening theory. This format became a symbol of Fischer’s genius and his approach to the game.
But now, Chess 960 seems to be losing its connection to the name of its creator. The shift to "Freestyle Chess" feels like a break from its historical roots and could be perceived as a lack of respect for Fischer. By naming this tournament "Freestyle Chess," the organizers may have inadvertently diminished Fischer’s contribution to the creation and popularization of this unique format. Could this be seen as a lack of respect for the 11th world champion? Or perhaps it’s an attempt by Magnus Carlsen to leave his own mark on chess history?

Possible Reasons for the Name Change

One might speculate that the organizers aimed to make the format more appealing to a broader audience. "Freestyle Chess" has a modern and dynamic ring to it, perhaps intended to attract newcomers or rebrand the format in a fresh way.
However, in my opinion, this does not justify entirely abandoning Fischer’s name. Bobby Fischer is one of the most iconic figures in chess history, and his contributions deserve recognition, especially in the format he invented.
It’s also worth noting that FIDE does not officially recognize this series as a world championship, which raises the question: is this a strategic move by Carlsen to challenge FIDE and establish an alternative narrative?

What Do You Think?

So, what do you think, chess fans? Does this rebranding honor the legacy of Fischer, or does it overlook his critical role in shaping this format? Is this Carlsen’s attempt to redefine chess history or a bold step toward modernizing the game?
And finally, the big question: what should this format really be called—Fischer Random Chess, Chess 960, or Freestyle Chess?