“I’m not motivated to play another match,” Carlson said in the first episode of his podcast “The Magnus Effect. I feel like I don’t have much to gain. I don’t particularly like it.” ”
Carlson has repeatedly indicated that, having been bored with a title he held for nearly 10 years, he may abdicate his throne without a fight.
The 31-year-old crushed Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi 7.5-3.5 in his fifth straight winning title match last December.
“While I am sure the match will be interesting for historical reasons and amidst all this, I have no inclination to play and I will not play the match,” Carlsen said in a podcast released on Wednesday.
Carlsen said he had met with representatives of The International Chess Federation (FIDE) to inform him of his decision in Madrid regarding the Candidates tournament – which decides who will get the chance to challenge the world champions.
“We had a small discussion. He had some suggestions, some of them I liked, some of them I didn’t, but finally the conclusion stands,” he said.
– ‘Zero’ – Carlsen said he had thought about the decision for more than a year, “long before the last match”.
Commenting on Carlsen’s announcement, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovic said in a statement: “His decision not to defend his title is undoubtedly bad news for fans of disappointment and spectacle. It leaves a huge void.”
“But chess is now stronger than ever – in part, thanks to Magnus – and world championship matches, one of the longest and most respected traditions in the sporting world, will continue,” Dvorkovic said.
With five wins and nine draws, Nepomniachtchi won the Candidates tournament, but with Carlsen’s exit, “Nepo” will face China’s runner-up Ding Liren for the title.
Carlsen first became the World Chess Champion in 2013 when he defeated Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand.
A sixth successful title match could have brought Carlsen to the level with German Emanuel Lasker and Soviet Mikhail Botvinnik, the champions from 1894 to 1921.
Botvinic held the title between 1948 and 1963, although he lost and regained the title twice during that time, and his two successful defenses came in drawn matches.
“Overall I think it’s my time to leave the World Championship matches. I don’t rule out a return in the future, but I wouldn’t particularly count on it,” Carlsen said.
But Carlsen also insisted that he is not retiring from the game.
“Just no ambiguity here, I’m not retiring from chess, I’m still going to be an active player.”
He will then travel to Croatia to play in the Grand Chess Tour and then to Chennai, India to represent Norway at the Chess Olympiad.
JL/JC
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