07-20-2022, 07:09 PM
https://www.chess.com/news/view/magnus-c...orld-title
GM Magnus Carlsen will not defend his world championship title against GM Ian Nepomniachtchi next year. Carlsen announced his decision on a podcast on Tuesday. According to current regulations, FIDE Candidates tournament winner Nepomniachtchi will now play the world championship against Candidates runner-up GM Ding Liren.
"I’ve spoken to people in my team, I’ve spoken to FIDE, I spoke to Ian as well. The conclusion is very simple: I’m not motivated to play another match," said Carlsen. "I don’t have a lot to gain. I don't particularly like it, and although I’m sure a match would be interesting for historical reasons, I don’t have any inclinations to play and I will simply not play the match."
Carlsen thus confirmed the earlier doubts he had expressed on December 14, 2021 and later repeated: after playing five world championship matches, he is not enjoying them anymore.
I haven't been following chess too closely in recent years, so this comes as a surprise to me - but it sounds like he'd been hinting at this for a while, and I can't really fault his reasoning. After all, he's already established himself as a legend of the game, and he has nothing left to prove: it must be hard to stay motivated under those circumstances.
Still, I'm sure all his opponents will be breathing a sigh of relief . Good luck to those who will attempt to take his title!
GM Magnus Carlsen will not defend his world championship title against GM Ian Nepomniachtchi next year. Carlsen announced his decision on a podcast on Tuesday. According to current regulations, FIDE Candidates tournament winner Nepomniachtchi will now play the world championship against Candidates runner-up GM Ding Liren.
"I’ve spoken to people in my team, I’ve spoken to FIDE, I spoke to Ian as well. The conclusion is very simple: I’m not motivated to play another match," said Carlsen. "I don’t have a lot to gain. I don't particularly like it, and although I’m sure a match would be interesting for historical reasons, I don’t have any inclinations to play and I will simply not play the match."
Carlsen thus confirmed the earlier doubts he had expressed on December 14, 2021 and later repeated: after playing five world championship matches, he is not enjoying them anymore.
I haven't been following chess too closely in recent years, so this comes as a surprise to me - but it sounds like he'd been hinting at this for a while, and I can't really fault his reasoning. After all, he's already established himself as a legend of the game, and he has nothing left to prove: it must be hard to stay motivated under those circumstances.
Still, I'm sure all his opponents will be breathing a sigh of relief . Good luck to those who will attempt to take his title!
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