Magnus Carlsen Wins 5th World Championship Title

Magnus Carlsen remains World Chess Champion after beating Ian Nepomniachtchi in Dubai with a crushing 7.5:3.5 scoreline. Ian blundered in a drawish position, but our commentators felt it was deliberate or subconscious chess suicide, since a draw would have meant a mission impossible — the Russian needing to win all three of the remaining games. Magnus has now held the title since beating Vishy Anand in 2013, and he’ll have spent a decade as the champ when he next has to defend his title in 2023. GOAT? “I think there’s still some way to go, but I’m not done with my chess career yet!”

Magnus has now won five World Championship matches, compared to Garry’s six, and at a rating of 2865 after the match (61 points ahead of 2nd place Firouzja) is again rated higher than Garry’s peak rating. Where Kasparov still holds the edge is having been the no. 1 for almost a decade longer. The 13th World Chess Champion himself commented.

What next? Well, the World Rapid and Blitz Championship has hastily been rearranged to take place in Warsaw, Poland from December 26-30 after COVID restrictions made holding it in Kazakhstan impossible. Magnus described his bid to gain the triple crown of classical, rapid and blitz World Champion as a way to celebrate his victory in the match.

He’s going to have plenty of players celebrating with him!

See also:

• Official website
• chess24