PARIS - Chess great Magnus Carlsen is launching a world Freestyle Chess tour as the variant of the game, also known as Chess960, is gaining in popularity, the world number one announced on Friday.

Norwegian Carlsen, a five-time classical chess world champion who relinquished his title last year, has partnered with German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner to set up a new, exclusive tour that will start in chess powerhouse India in November.