India, Sept. 1 -- FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, on Monday, responded to Hikaru Nakamura's recent explosive claim criticising the Candidates' rating qualification spot. Nakumara accused FIDE of maintaining the ratings spot only to make way for Magnus Carlsen's return. Sutovsky said the claims were incorrect.

"Hikaru often makes statements in good faith, but without knowing all the facts, and that's a problem. Of course, he has a larger platform, which makes it difficult to refute him from a smaller one. But that's... well, acceptable," Sutovsky said.

Sutovsky also dismissed Nakamura's claim that the rules were designed in a way to favour Carlsen.

He added: "He (Hikaru) claims we designed the rating spot for Magnus, but that's completely illog...