– I still remember how green I felt during that game, recalls Magnus Carlsen. Because in the podcast “Sjakksnakk” he opens up about a hitherto unknown episode. It all plays out underneath the big tournament London Chess Classics in 2012 and the city’s rich nightlife. Humid city trip The story is introduced by presenter Odin Blikra Vea, who tells that a small group were going out to play bowling on Carlsen’s birthday. The atmosphere was top notch, and eventually there was also a unit or two of alcoholic drink. PODCAST HOST: Odin Blikra Vea has previously worked as a chess expert for news. Photo: news Russian Jan Nepomnjashchij, who recently lost the World Cup match, was working as Carlsen’s second at the time, but was the first to decide to go home for the evening. That decision was a long time coming for Carlsen and the rest of the cheerful team. – I couldn’t sleep, says Blikra Vea about the effect several caffeinated drinks had on the night’s sleep. – Properly drunk While lying awake, he remembered that Carlsen had drunk the same, and suddenly became worried about the many hours on the eye the chess star would have before an important first game in London. – It is the first and only time I have played long chess and been really drunk. I couldn’t sleep myself, either. I hadn’t slept a thing, says Carlsen in the podcast. He dozed off inside the gaming room, but woke up when his name was called out at the front of the party. The opponent was Luke McShane, often referred to as “the world’s best amateur”. Carlsen, who was already then the world’s highest-ranked player, quickly ran into problems. He tried to challenge the Englishman, but McShane was prepared. – I felt so tired and sick that at one point I wanted to give up. I was outplayed, the Norwegian recalls from the meeting. From “hangover” to above all But then, in the Briton’s 28th move, an opportunity opened up. McShane bowed and opened for Carlsen to win an officer. Suddenly he felt that “the hangover was cured”. In his 28th move, Carlsen played pawn f6. He thus put pressure on both the runner and the jumper at the same time. In the hall sat a relieved Blikra Vea, who had feared that he would be blamed if Carlsen lost. But now he got the upper hand in the game, and after over six hours of play he was able to collect the victory and get some long-awaited sleep. Chess expert Atle Grønn points out that it is not an ideal recharge before a game, but is not shocked by who won the match. – I am not too surprised that he managed in a single party, he says to news and continues: – That it is important to be in good physical shape is something that has become more and more important, but it is possible to play very well without being in great shape. Carlsen eventually won the entire tournament, and also passed Garry Kasparov’s old rating record for the first time during the games in London. Not long afterwards, he also went top in the candidate tournament, which qualified him for the WC match against Vishy Anand the following year. The feat in 2013 was Carlsen’s first World Cup victory, a title he retained until recently when Ding Liren defeated Nepomnjashchij in Astana. RATING JUMP: After the game against Gawain Jones, Carlsen passed Kasparov’s old rating record from 1999. Photo: RAY MORRIS-HILL / NTB
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