Magnus Carlsen’s blunt tackle younger gamers: ‘Nobody can persuade me to return to World Chess Championship’

Magnus Carlsen has reiterated that he’s not keen on reclaiming the world chess title, having vacated the place in 2022. In 2021, Carlsen said that he would contemplate defending his title if Alireza Firouzja certified for the 2023 World Chess Championship. Nevertheless, he now asserts that nobody can change his thoughts.

No participant can entice Carlsen again to World Championship

India’s D Gukesh is at present the world chess champion,
having overwhelmed Ding Liren within the 2024 World Chess Championship in December final yr. Gukesh is the youngest champion of all time at 18, however taking him on within the 2026 title combat can be not one thing that pursuits Carlsen.

“I don’t see that in the meanwhile. I feel it’s very, most unlikely,” Carlsen instructed Reuters on Monday when requested about his potential return to the World Chess Championship cycle. “In the intervening time, no (different participant would persuade me to present it a go),” he added.

Carlsen, nonetheless, didn’t draw back from stating that whereas he isn’t making ready for the World Chess Championship, he nonetheless needs to show to youthful gamers that he stays one of the best. The 34-year-old Norwegian has held the world No. 1 rating for the previous 13 years and boasts the highest-ever Elo score of 2882, however the competitors is rising with 5 out of the highest 10 gamers at present born within the 2000s.

Carlsen could take up mentoring in future

The five-time world champion additionally added that mentoring the children is one thing he can take up sooner or later, similar to legendary Garry Kasparov.

“I primarily take pleasure in enjoying, however I don’t rule that (mentoring) out for the long run. I already take pleasure in it when youthful gamers ask me for recommendation and so forth,” Carlsen mentioned.

“However I really feel like for the second I actually take pleasure in enjoying and I’m actually good at it nonetheless. So which may be one thing for the long run, however in the meanwhile I’m making an attempt to definitely show that I’m nonetheless higher than the youngsters.”

As an alternative of regaining the world title, Carlsen’s focus these days has been on the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour which he based alongside a German businessman. The
first leg of the tour befell in Germany in February and the subsequent is scheduled for April in Paris.