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Magnus Carlsen in his most recent title defense against Jan Nepomnyashchi in December 2021
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GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen resigns – for the time being.
The Norwegian is giving up his title and will not defend it in spring 2023 as planned.
"I lack the motivation for another title fight," said the 31-year-old in a video podcast published by his sponsor on Wednesday.
"I feel like I don't have much to win, I don't like [the World Championship fights] very much and while I'm sure a match would be interesting for history and all that, I just don't feel like playing , and I'm just not going to play the match," he said on the podcast.
Carlsen said he was in Madrid for talks with the world chess association Fide.
He came without demands or suggestions, but to communicate his renunciation.
'We had a little discussion.
You made a few suggestions.
I liked some, I didn't like others.
But my decision stands,” said Carlsen.
He had been thinking about this for a year and a half.
But he wants to continue his chess career.
Among other things, he will represent his home country at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, this year.
Carlsen also did not rule out a World Cup comeback at a later date.
18-year-old super talent as motivation
After his most recent successful title defense in December 2021 against Jan Nepomnyashchi from Russia, Carlsen had indicated that he only wanted to compete again in the World Cup duel if the Franco-Iranian prodigy Alireza Firouzja won the Candidates Tournament.
There, however, Nepomnjaschchi emerged victorious, who is now to fight against the second-placed Chinese Ding Liren for the world championship crown in the game of kings.
Carlsen won this against Viswanathan Anand in 2013 and successfully defended it for the first time against the Indian the following year.
In 2016 he defeated Sergej Karjakin (Russia), in 2018 the American Fabiano Caruana.
ngo/dpa/sid/Reuters
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