Five-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen has announced that he will not defend his title, after more than a decade as the best player.
Key points:
- Carlsen said he wanted to resign long before his last game
- Earlier he said he would only defend the title if world number three Alireza Firouzja were his opponent
- Chess officials say his ad “leaves a big gap” for fans and players
The Norwegian coach has stressed that he will not retire from the sport and would remain an active player, but said he “doesn’t have much to gain” and that he was not motivated to play another game.
“I don’t particularly like it [the championship matches]”He said in a podcast for his Unibet sponsor.
“And while I’m sure a match would be interesting for historical reasons and all that, I don’t feel like playing and I just won’t play the match.
“Anyway, the conclusion remains, one I’m pretty comfortable with, one I’ve been thinking about for a long time, I’d say more than a year ago.”
Loading
He added that he wanted to give up long before his last match against Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, which Carlsen won without losing a match.
Carlsen would have faced Nepomniachtchi at the 2023 World Championships.
Nepomniachtchi is now likely to play the recent runner-up in the Candidates Tournament, Chinese Ding Liren.
“And I’ve talked to people on my team, to FIDE (International Chess Federation), also to Ian,” Carlsen said.
“And the bottom line is, it’s simple, I’m not motivated to play another game.”
FIDE President Arkadi Dvorkovich said Carlsen deserved nothing more than respect from FIDE and the chess community.
Ian Nepomniachtchi will probably play against Chinese Ding Liren. (AP: Kamran Jebreili, archive photo)
“Only a handful of people in history can understand and assess the enormous cost of playing five games for the title,” Dvorkovich said in a statement.
“His decision not to defend his title is certainly a disappointment for the fans, and bad news for the show. It leaves a big gap.
“But chess is now stronger than ever, thanks in part to Magnus, and the World Cup match, one of the longest and most respected traditions in the world of sport, will continue.”
Loading
Carlsen previously said he would be willing to let go of his world title unless his next opponent was French-Iranian teenager Alireza Firouzja, the current world number three.
Instead, Nepomniachtchi organized a rematch by winning the Candidates Tournament in Madrid earlier this month with a round to spare.
Liren overtook U.S. chess YouTuber Hikaru Nakamura for second place in the Candidate Tournament by beating him in the final round.
ABC / Reuters