The reigning classical chess world champion, Magnus Carlsen, has chosen to withdraw from the world crown match against Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi. This development was reported by a chess news portal.
Carlsen stated, “I have informed my team, FIDE, and Jan that I will not participate in a classical world championship game. I have no motivation to play another match for the chess crown.”
Norway’s top player has held the title since 2013. That year, Carlsen decisively faced former world champion Viswanathan Anand and won 6.5–3.5. A year later, in Sochi, he did not allow Anand a comeback, securing another victory at 6.5–4.5.
In 2016, Carlsen met Sergey Karjakin in a world title match. For the first time in a world championship contest, he dropped a game. Karjakin briefly gained momentum in the seventh game, but Carlsen rebounded to defend the title in a rapid tiebreak.
Two years later in London, Carlsen faced Fabiano Caruana of the United States. All 12 classical games ended in draws, yet Carlsen prevailed in the tiebreak to retain the crown.
In December last year, Carlsen played his fifth world championship match, against Ian Nepomniachtchi. The Russian grandmaster faltered under pressure and finished well behind, 3.5–7.5 in the classical games.
Before Madrid hosted the Candidates Tournament, Carlsen announced that he would not pursue another world title unless Alireza Firouzja, the young French-Iranian grandmaster, won. Firouzja, at nineteen, was seen by many as a potential successor, but a disappointing tournament finish left him in last place.
Consequently, Nepomniachtchi secured an early lead, finishing with 9.5 points and becoming the first player to win theCandidates tournament twice in a row.
Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren will step in to face Nepomniachtchi in the World Chess Crown Match after finishing second in the 2022 Candidates Tournament, defeating American Hikaru Nakamura in the final round.
Sergey Karjakin, who played in the 2016 world championship, expressed disappointment about Carlsen’s decision in an interview with socialbites.ca. He noted that many fans and professionals hoped Carlsen would defend the title and that a world championship usually rests on a single decisive match.
Karjakin recalled that only one comparable situation existed in chess history when Fischer paused his career; the subsequent career arc of Fischer’s era did not mirror Carlsen’s path. According to Karjakin, the sport loses something when the reigning champion opts out, and the world would feel unsettled until a new champion is crowned.
Vladimir Potkin, who coaches Ian Nepomniachtchi, described the news as shocking. He noted that the world champion and rating leader were preparing for a major clash, though preconditions to his refusal had been mentioned after the Dubai match.
Sergey Smagin, vice-president of the Moscow Chess Federation, believed Carlsen might reconsider and still participate. He cautioned that a young, ambitious player in crisis moments can appear reluctant, yet the world needs a champion who can inspire others instead of retreating into silence.
In the view of many observers, the recent changes to the world championship selection process have stirred debate. Some feel the system has been reworked with difficulty, and the current turn of events could be interpreted as a destabilizing moment for the sport. Still, the chess community watches closely for how the crown will be decided and what this means for the health of the game.
Commentators suggested that financial considerations could influence Carlsen’s stance. The timing of FIDE elections and potential leadership changes may shape future negotiations. A rise in prize funds could shift positions, making players reconsider retirement or renewed participation, especially if governance shifts align with broader changes in the sport.
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