– I am very comfortable with the decision that has been made and have no problem defending it either, says Magnus Carlsen to news. It is the 31-year-old’s first interview after he announced that he will not run for another WC to defend the WC title he won in December. Among those who have reacted is five-time world champion Garry Kasparov. The Croat has also been a coach for Carlsen. Kasparov himself chose to leave FIDE (the International Chess Federation) 30 years ago. – I don’t think Carlsen is satisfied with Fide as an organisation. Fide is still controlled by Russians and in the current international situation it is not a good sign for the future, says Kasparov to Croatian HRT. KNOWS CARLSEN WELL: Kasparov was Carlsen’s coach from his early teens, before the relationship broke up in 2010. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB Think Carlsen is fed up news has been in contact with Carlsen’s World Cup opponent, Jan Nepomnjashchij, who did not want to answer question about Carlsen’s WC no. He has said to chess.com that the decision could damage chess in the long run: – It is quite damaging, but it is difficult to know how much now. From a human perspective, the decision is understandable and I respect it one hundred percent, despite my personal disappointment that it happened, said “Nepo”. Jan Nepomnjashchij during the WC in chess against Magnus Carlsen. Photo: GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP Kasparov says that he was very surprised by Carlsen’s decision not to participate in the WC. Nevertheless, the Croatian emphasizes that chess has become faster and more dynamic. – I think he (Carlsen) is tired of playing these WC matches. He has hinted that he is more comfortable with the Grand Chess Tour format which includes classical, rapid and blitz chess. Does not have a bad conscience Carlsen has noticed that there have been reactions after he announced his WC no. – I understand there are many fans who are disappointed that I don’t want to play in the WC anymore. Of course, I understand that very well. Otherwise, I feel that there have been many, both privately and publicly, who have expressed a lot of understanding. I naturally appreciate that very much. Regarding colleagues who think he has a responsibility to play in the WC, he replies: – I feel I have done my part when it comes to the WC title. I don’t have a bad conscience that way. I just want to say that I play and then people can think what they want. CHAMPION: Magnus Carlsen has won all five WC gold medals since 2013. Here from Dubai in 2021. Photo: – / AFP Carlsen also caused shock in the chess community in 2010. In an open letter, he said that he was going to drop out of the candidate tournament in chess in the coming year. – I wasn’t really that interested in explaining why because I didn’t expect people to understand anyway. I think so this time too. – No matter how much you talk, there are some who on a basic level will not understand why someone would give away the WC title in that way. You just have to live with that, says Carlsen. Travels to the Olympics with a chance of a medal During the Chess Olympics, which start on Thursday, the Norwegian world champion expects to get more questions about his WC no. But Carlsen is clear that he is in India to play the Olympics and nothing else. There he is on the Norwegian team together with Aryan Tari, Jon Ludvig Hammer, Johan-Sebastian Christiansen and Frode Urkedal. – This is super exciting. We have the best team on paper ever, says Carlsen. ON THE SAME TEAM: Magnus Carlsen has chess player and TV profile Jon Ludvig Hammer with him on Norway’s Olympic team. Photo: Erlend Aas / NTB Russia and Belarus cannot participate in the tournament due to the invasion of Ukraine. China has chosen not to field in Chennai. It gives Norway even better opportunities to assert itself and aim for an Olympic medal. – It is of course a shame that a couple of the best teams cannot participate for various reasons. This means that there is really only one team that on paper is stronger than us, and that is the USA, says the Norwegian world champion. The Chess Olympics runs from 28 July to 10 August. Norway is also fielding a women’s team consisting of Monika Machlik, Sheila Barth Stanford, Edit Machlik, Alena Ayzenberg and Maud Rødsmoen.
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