How Magnus Carlsen went from the world's best chess player to refusing to defend his title after losing motivation with the game

James PasleyJun 3, 2023, 17:50 IST

Magnus Carlsen of Norway competes against Daniil Dubov of Russia on January 16, 2020 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Magnus Carlsen was 13 when he became a Grandmaster and 19 when he became the youngest ever world No. 1.
He won five world championships, modeled for G-Star, was offered a role in Star Trek, and made millions of dollars.

Magnus Carlsen once said the first line of his autobiography would be: "I am not a genius."

Regardless of whether he is a genius, Carlsen is certainly remarkable. He's been the world's best chess player for the last 10 years. He became a chess Grandmaster at 13, then the youngest player to ever rank number 1 in the world at 19. He's won five world championships.

According to the Elo rating system, which has ranked chess players by their estimated strength for a century, he's the best ever.

But in 2022, he announced he would not be defending his title. He said he wasn't motivated and that he didn't have a lot to gain.

Magnus Carlsen was born in Norway on November 30, 1990. When he was 2, he was completing 50-piece puzzles. By 4, he was memorizing countries and population sizes across the world. By 5, he was spending hours playing with Legos.

Magnus Carlsen participates in the Dubai Open chess tournament in 2004.Rabih Moghrabi/AFP via Getty Images

Magnus Carlsen was born in Norway on November 30, 1990. When he was 2, he was completing 50-piece puzzles. By 4, he was memorizing countries and population sizes across the world. By 5, he was spending hours playing with Legos.

He didn't start playing until he was 8 years old. His father Henrik tried to get him into it when he was 5 but failed to captivate him.

Henrik Carlsen looks at his son during a press conference in 2007.Daniel Sannum Lauten/AFP/Getty Images

Carlsen quickly began to prioritize chess over everything else, including school. At dinner, he had a second table set up beside the main table with a chessboard on it. He spent five hours each night playing.

Swedish Magnus Carlsen,13, plays chess against Costa Rican Alejandro Ramirez, 15, on the first day of the Corus Chess Tournament in January 2005.Marcel Antonisse/AFP/Getty Images

Carlsen quickly began to prioritize chess over everything else, including school. At dinner, he had a second table set up beside the main table with a chessboard on it. He spent five hours each night playing.

Within a year, he had beaten his father in blitz chess where each player only has five minutes to play. Soon after, he entered local competitions.

Magnus Carlsen in 2007.Daniel Sannum Lauten/AFP/Getty Images

Carlsen played all of the time. He told The Guardian it wasn't an accident he became Norway's best chess player.

Magnus Carlsen, 19, sits in the chair at a barbers shop in Oslo on August 31, 2009.Danial Sannum-Lauten/AFP/Getty Images

In 2004, when he was 13, The Washington Post dubbed him the "Mozart of chess" after he paused for 30 minutes during a match before making his move.

Magnus Carlsen, 19, looks on while being shaved at a barbers shop in Oslo on August 31, 2009.Daniel Sannum-Lauten/AFP/Getty Images

Carlsen also became a Grandmaster in 2013 after beating former world champion Anatoli Karpov. He was the third youngest player to do so.

Magnus Carlsen in 2013.Daniel Sannum-Lauten/AFP/Getty Images

In 2007, he was winning enough — and earning enough — that his parents formed a company to deal with his prize money.

Magnus Carlsen straightened his tie in 2009.Daniel Sannum-Lauten/AFP/Getty Images

In 2009, he dropped out of school without graduating having decided he wasn't interested. For about a year during this period, former world champion Gary Kasparov started coaching him.

Chess Player Gary Kasparov competes during Grand Prix Intel Tournament, Paris, on November 13, 1994.Raphael Gaillarde/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

In 2009, he dropped out of school without graduating having decided he wasn't interested. For about a year during this period, former world champion Gary Kasparov started coaching him.

It was around this period that Carlsen became a genuine celebrity. He was the first world champion from the West since Bobby Fischer, who became a household name after beating Boris Spassky in 1972.

Bobby Fischer in 1971.David Attie/Getty Images

It was around this period that Carlsen became a genuine celebrity. He was the first world champion from the West since Bobby Fischer, who became a household name after beating Boris Spassky in 1972.

Carlsen modeled next to actress Liv Tyler. He was profiled by "60 Minutes." He got multiple sponsorships from Unibet and a number of Norwegian companies.

Magnus Carlsen and Liv Tyler in 2010.Nick Hunt/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

In 2011, Carlsen showed a glimmer of his unpredictability when he refused to compete in the world championships.

Magnus Carlsen of Norway competes during the 83rd Tata Steel Chess Tournament on January 27, 2021.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

In 2012, he was profiled by "60 Minutes." In the episode, he played — and beat — 10 different players without ever looking at the chessboards.

Magnus Carlsen from Norway plays a chess game on November 25, 2012, in Mexico City, Mexico.Hector Vivas/Jam Media/LatinContent via Getty Images

In 2013, he co-founded the company "Play Magnus," which started as an app based on his chess history but soon broadened to include online games, training, and publishing.

Magnus Carlsen in 2022.Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

In 2013, he co-founded the company "Play Magnus," which started as an app based on his chess history but soon broadened to include online games, training, and publishing.

In 2013, he agreed to compete in the world championships. Just before turning 22, he beat then-world champion 44-year-old Viswanathan Anand.

Magnus Carlsen training for his first World Championship match against Vishy Anand on August 5, 2013 in Kragero, Norway.Misha Friedman/Getty Images

Carlsen went on to win four more world championships. He beat Anand again, then Sergey Karjakin, Fabiano Caruana, and Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Magnus Carlsen after winning the chess world championship in 2018.Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

By 2018, The New York Times was reporting on the "Magnus Effect." In Norway, his successes led to a surge in chess popularity.

Fans watching a livestream of one of Magnus Carlsen’s matches in 2016.Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

But Carlsen himself wasn't feeling it. He said his goal had only been to win the world championship once. He competed for his third title in 2016 due to other people's expectations, and he said that his fourth and fifth wins were "nothing."

Magnus Carlsen played chess in 2020.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

But Carlsen himself wasn't feeling it. He said his goal had only been to win the world championship once. He competed for his third title in 2016 due to other people's expectations, and he said that his fourth and fifth wins were "nothing."

Even so, in 2019 he went on another winning streak, emerging victorious in eight different tournaments and not losing once in 125 games.

Magnus Carlsen of Norway competes against Jorden Van Foreest of Netherlands on January 14, 2020.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

When the pandemic hit, Carlsen could no longer tour, but he didn't stop playing chess. He hosted an online tournament called the "Magnus Carlsen Invitation" with $250,000 in prize money.

Magnus Carlsen in 2022.Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images

When the pandemic hit, Carlsen could no longer tour, but he didn't stop playing chess. He hosted an online tournament called the "Magnus Carlsen Invitation" with $250,000 in prize money.

In 2021, Carlsen was on another winning streak before he lost to Hans Niemann, a 19-year-old American Grandmaster, during a tournament in the US, who he accused of cheating.

Magnus Carlsen in 2021.Koen Van Weel/ANP/AFP/Getty Images

In 2021, Carlsen was on another winning streak before he lost to Hans Niemann, a 19-year-old American Grandmaster, during a tournament in the US, who he accused of cheating.

In July 2022, Carlsen also announced he would not be defending his world championship title.

Magnus Carlsen in 2020.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

In May 2023, Carlsen made a return to the game without his world championship title at a tournament in Poland.

Magnus Carlsen during the presentation of players and press conference in Warsaw, Poland, on May 20, 2023.Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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How Magnus Carlsen went from the world's best chess player to refusing to defend his title after losing motivation with the game

Magnus Carlsen was born in Norway on November 30, 1990. When he was 2, he was completing 50-piece puzzles. By 4, he was memorizing countries and population sizes across the world. By 5, he was spending hours playing with Legos.

He didn't start playing until he was 8 years old. His father Henrik tried to get him into it when he was 5 but failed to captivate him.

Carlsen quickly began to prioritize chess over everything else, including school. At dinner, he had a second table set up beside the main table with a chessboard on it. He spent five hours each night playing.

Within a year, he had beaten his father in blitz chess where each player only has five minutes to play. Soon after, he entered local competitions.

Carlsen played all of the time. He told The Guardian it wasn't an accident he became Norway's best chess player.

In 2004, when he was 13, The Washington Post dubbed him the "Mozart of chess" after he paused for 30 minutes during a match before making his move.

Carlsen also became a Grandmaster in 2013 after beating former world champion Anatoli Karpov. He was the third youngest player to do so.

In 2007, he was winning enough — and earning enough — that his parents formed a company to deal with his prize money.

In 2009, he dropped out of school without graduating having decided he wasn't interested. For about a year during this period, former world champion Gary Kasparov started coaching him.

It was around this period that Carlsen became a genuine celebrity. He was the first world champion from the West since Bobby Fischer, who became a household name after beating Boris Spassky in 1972.

Carlsen modeled next to actress Liv Tyler. He was profiled by "60 Minutes." He got multiple sponsorships from Unibet and a number of Norwegian companies.

In 2011, Carlsen showed a glimmer of his unpredictability when he refused to compete in the world championships.

In 2012, he was profiled by "60 Minutes." In the episode, he played — and beat — 10 different players without ever looking at the chessboards.

In 2013, he co-founded the company "Play Magnus," which started as an app based on his chess history but soon broadened to include online games, training, and publishing.

In 2013, he agreed to compete in the world championships. Just before turning 22, he beat then-world champion 44-year-old Viswanathan Anand.

Carlsen went on to win four more world championships. He beat Anand again, then Sergey Karjakin, Fabiano Caruana, and Ian Nepomniachtchi.

By 2018, The New York Times was reporting on the "Magnus Effect." In Norway, his successes led to a surge in chess popularity.

But Carlsen himself wasn't feeling it. He said his goal had only been to win the world championship once. He competed for his third title in 2016 due to other people's expectations, and he said that his fourth and fifth wins were "nothing."

Even so, in 2019 he went on another winning streak, emerging victorious in eight different tournaments and not losing once in 125 games.

When the pandemic hit, Carlsen could no longer tour, but he didn't stop playing chess. He hosted an online tournament called the "Magnus Carlsen Invitation" with $250,000 in prize money.

In 2021, Carlsen was on another winning streak before he lost to Hans Niemann, a 19-year-old American Grandmaster, during a tournament in the US, who he accused of cheating.

In July 2022, Carlsen also announced he would not be defending his world championship title.

In May 2023, Carlsen made a return to the game without his world championship title at a tournament in Poland.