The number 1 of the king of games, like Fischer in 1975, gives up his crown, “not motivated to play another match” against Nepomniatchtchi.
There is a bit of Fischer in this Carlsen. At the height of his glory, as the American had done before him in 1975 when he gave up his title to Karpov, the Norwegian super-grandmaster, who has dominated the planet for almost ten years, has just announced that he will give up defend his crown of world champion against the Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi at the end of the year 2022. “I’m not motivated to play another match. I just think I don’t have much to gain. I don’t particularly like it“said Magnus Carlsen in the first episode of his podcast The Magnus Effect.
In recent months, the Scandinavian champion had hinted several times that, tired of a title he has held for almost 10 years, he could give up his throne without a fight. He had raised the possibility last December, shortly after being crowned world chess champion by beating Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi 7.5-3.5 in his fifth consecutive title match. “Although I’m sure a match would be interesting for historical and other reasons, I have no desire to play and just won’t play the matchsaid Carlsen in the podcast released Wednesday, July 20.
A victorious sixth match for the title would have allowed Carlsen to equal the German Emanuel Lasker, champion from 1894 to 1921, and the Soviet Mikhaïl Moïseïevich Botvinnik. Indeed, The Soviet Chess Patriarch will have held the title between 1948 and 1963, although during that time he twice lost the title at the expense of Tal and Smyslov. “All in all, I feel like it’s time for me to quit World Championship matches. I don’t rule out a return in the future, but I won’t particularly count on it“Added Carlsen, specifying that he does not plan to put an end to his career. “So that there is no ambiguity here, I am not retiring from chess, I will always be an active playerinsisted the Thor of chess who is only 31 years old.
A bad move for chess?
The withdrawal of Carslen should benefit the dolphin of the Candidates tournament, the Chinese Ding Liren, probable future opponent of Ian Nepomniachtchi for the world crown. The president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Arkady Dvorkovich did not hide his regrets over Carlsen’s decision, which he described in a statement on Wednesday as “bad news for chess media“while displaying his”respectfor the Norwegian. “Since Magnus publicly expressed his doubts, FIDE has been open to dialogue and consideration of specific proposals to change the format of the World Championship.Dvorkovich explained.
«Some of these ideas were discussed in May with Carlsen and other top players, and in Madrid we had a meeting where all concerns were discussed openly and in detail. Alas, that didn’t change his mind.“, Lamented the leader of the international body. “But chess is now stronger than ever – thanks in part to Magnus – and the world championship (title) match, one of the oldest and most respected traditions in the world of sport, will continue.concluded the FIDE President