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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Magnus Carlsen: ‘Had complete collapse of my nervous system… didn't enjoy not talking to wife Ella'
With two dominating wins over Vidit Gujrathi on Friday, Magnus Carlsen bounced back from his performances on Thursday, where he was eliminated from the race to win the Las Vegas event of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour after finishing fifth in Group White. Carlsen said he had suffered a 'complete collapse of his nervous system' on the first day of the event and did not enjoy not being able to talk to his wife Ella or his long-time coach Peter Heine Nielsen during rounds. The tournament rules meant that top four players from both Group White and Group Black would enter the quarter-finals in the Upper Bracket while the other eight players would fight it out in the Lower Bracket. While India's Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa were among those who made it to the Upper Bracket, Carlsen and Vidit were among those who were relegated to the Lower Bracket. There, a wounded Carlsen ruthlessly handed a 2-0 defeat to Vidit to advance to the next round while the Indian was eliminated from the event, finishing joint 13th with four others. 'I think it started well yesterday. I felt all right, relatively rested at least compared to other days. And then I don't know, I didn't enjoy the whole process of just being pretty isolated there for many, many hours and not being able to talk to Peter or Ella in between rounds and not being able to to use my devices and so on. What happened then was just kind of a complete collapse of my nervous system,' Carlsen told the YouTube handle of Freestyle Chess after his win over Vidit. 'I could have scraped through of course with some help but it would have been completely underserved. So, it was a complete collapse and yeah, sometimes you have one bad day and I've had that in Freestyle before in the preliminaries, but then there's been a bit of a wider margin to get through. This time it wasn't. It's not an excuse. I should make it regardless.' He said he wanted to talk to his wife Ella and his longtime second Heine Nielsen to 'get out of the bubble'. 'I just wanted to get out of the bubble, especially when things start going south a little bit. I feel like I'm just kind of left in my own head a little bit and it would have been probably a little bit easier to shake off if I could talk to somebody very familiar,' Carlsen explained. Carlsen said that after being eliminated from title contention, he was playing chess for the 'love of the sport'. 'It's been a thing recently that when things are going well, I play really well and then I'm not really able to sort of change bad trends. And when sort of my nervous system starts collapsing, then it's all quite bad. I have bad days in pretty much every tournament. It's just, you know, sometimes they happen at inopportune moments,' Carlsen said. 'I haven't felt — in Zagreb (at SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia tournament) or here — at the top of at the top of my game, but at least, now that there's zero pressure that I don't have anything to play for, at least I can maybe enjoy the games a little bit more. Today more than anything else, I was just trying to play fun chess and play dynamically from the start and that worked out well. So that's the advantage of playing Freestyle Chess that even if you don't have anything to play for, it's kind of a little bit easier to play kind of for the love of the game than in some other forms of chess,' Carlsen concluded. Carlsen also slammed the other players for not thinking for themselves and just following moves discussed with other players before games. In Freestyle Chess, players learn about the opening position just 10 minutes before their games and then they can sit with other players who share the colour and discuss tactics for the 10 minutes. 'I'm under no illusions that everything that I did was correct and so on, but I enjoyed the process of working up the games from early on. And that's kind of what Freestyle Chess is here for, right? Just putting pressure on from the start. I see the others as well, they're following — like they're doing better than I am so I shouldn't (comment), you know it's working — they're all playing kind of the same setup that they've discussed for 10 minutes and I find that utterly ridiculous. I like to imagine people sit at the board and they will think for themselves as well. 'Like in the last game for instance the setup that everybody chose immediately led to a very fine position for black which I mean it's kind of mindboggling to me and I don't think that's the intention of what we are trying to do (with Freestyle Chess). But yeah, what can I say that strategy has worked better than mine has for sure.'
Spectator
7 days ago
- Sport
- Spectator
Rapid & Blitz, Croatia
Before the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament, held in Zagreb earlier this month, Magnus Carlsen spoke frankly: 'Gukesh hasn't done anything to indicate he's going to do well in such a tournament.' That was, in a sense, true. Granted, 19-year old Gukesh Dommaraju has been world champion since December, when he defeated the reigning champion Ding Liren in Singapore. But that match was played in classical chess, the slowest form of the game. Rapid games usually last 30-60 minutes in total, and blitz games less than ten. Success at those faster time limits calls for a well-honed intuition, whereas classical games require more in the way of stamina and an intense attention to detail. Gukesh has focused his efforts almost exclusively on classical chess. He skipped the World Rapid & Blitz Championships in New York in December, and almost a year had passed since he participated in internationally rated rapid or blitz events, while his performances in 'Freestyle' events (aka Chess960) have been underwhelming. But Gukesh proved in Zagreb that his skills are still developing fast. He confounded Carlsen's prediction by taking first place in the rapid event, including a turbulent win against the Norwegian himself (see below). Carlsen got revenge in the blitz event, where Gukesh finished last, so it was still Carlsen who topped the combined standings. Magnus Carlsen-Gukesh Dommaraju SuperUnited Rapid, Zagreb 2025 1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Bb4 3 Nf3 Bxc3 4 dxc3 d6 5 e4 Nd7 6 Bd3 Nc5 7 Bc2 Nf6 8 Qe2 a5 9 Nd2 g6 10 Nf1 Be6 11 Bg5 h6 12 Bh4 g5 13 Bg3 Qd7 14 f3 Nh5 15 Ne3 Nf4 16 Qd2 b5 17 Nd5 Bxd5 18 cxd5 Nh5 A strange decision from Gukesh, driving the bishop to a better diagonal. Ke8-f8-g7 would have been better played immediately. 19 Bf2 Kf8 20 g3 Kg7 21 Be3 Qe7 22 Rg1 Nf6 (see above). It is a common misconception that knights are better than bishops in closed positions. That is only valid when the knights enjoy strong outposts. Here, the pawn on g3 sidelines the Nh5, while the Nc5 can be evicted at any moment by b2-b4. Nevertheless, Carlsen's next move backfires, because he has not yet brought his king to safety. Had Carlsen played 22 O-O instead of 22 Rh1-g1, his approach with b2-b4 might well have been successful. 23 b4 axb4 24 cxb4 Na4 25 Bd3 c6! Battling for the initiative, even at the cost of a pawn. 26 dxc6 d5! Forcing more lines open, since after 27 Bxb5 d4! 28 Bf2 Nc3 29 Bd3 g4! White would soon start shedding pawns. 27 exd5 Nxd5 28 a3 Rhd8 29 Rc1 Rd6 30 Bxb5 Ndc3 31 Bc5 Nxb5 32 Bxd6 Nxd6 In this murky position, White's vulnerable king is still the most significant factor. 33 Kf2 Nb6 34 Qd3 Qe6 A subtle move, introducing ideas of Qe6-a2+ and Qe6-h3, as well as bringing a knight to c4 to attack a3. 35 Rc5 35 Rge1 was probably a better choice, restraining e5-e4 but ceding the c6 pawn. After 35…Ndc4 36 Rc3 Qxc6 37 Rec1 Rc8 the game is at an impasse. e4 36 Qd4+ Kg8 37 Rd1 exf3 38 Re5 Now the game is beyond saving. 38 Rc2 was essential, in order to meet Qe6-h3 with Kf2-g1. However, Black retains the upper hand with 38…Nbc4 Qh3 39 Kxf3 Nbc4 There is no good answer to the dual threats of Nxe5+ and Rxa3+. 40 Ra5 Nxa5 41 bxa5 Qf5+ 42 Kg2 Qc2+ 43 Kg1 Nf5 44 Qd7 Ne3 45 Rd2 Qc1+ 46 Kf2 Ng4+ 47 Ke2 Ne5 48 Qe7 Nxc6 49 Qe4 Rxa5 White resigns
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
‘Sometimes, he even forgets…': D Gukesh's trainer credits Magnus Carlsen historic win to ‘faster time control' secret
After topping the Rapid section at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia, D Gukesh had an underwhelming section in the Blitz category. His performances in the Blitz section saw him slip to third position in the overall standings. D Gukesh after his Rapid win vs Magnus Carlsen.(Twitter) His Rapid performance also saw him defeat Magnus Carlsen, in what was a sensational result for the reigning world champion. It made Carlsen regret his comments on Gukesh's abilities in shorter time formats. It also came after his recent Norway Chess win against the world No. 1. 'Faster time control' Speaking to the New Indian Express, Gukesh's chief trainer, Grzegorz Gajewski revealed the main reason behind Gukesh's sudden rise in shorter time formats. 'We are doing some exercises strictly devoted to the faster time control. Just some training games and exercises,' he said. He also spoke about the challenges for Gukesh as the reigning world champion. He said, 'Chess wise, it's a tricky period because as world champion, the expectation is that much higher. In the process, many people forget that he's only 19. Sometimes, he even forgets that he's only 19. It's about managing his own ambitions, he's of course very hungry and just wanting to crush everybody on the board. But the reality is that the competition is very strong and many of his opponents are older, even the very young guys are older than him." 'For me, the most important thing is for Gukesh to develop as a player not in terms of Classical or Rapid or Blitz… there are many areas to improve and once he improves in those areas he will become stronger in all formats. You just focus on the improvements,' he added. In their Blitz face-off, Carlsen showcased brilliant skills and took advantage of Gukesh's struggles in the format. In the overall standings, Carlsen finished on top with 22.5 overall points, ahead of second-placed Wesley So (20), Gukesh (19.5) and Jan-Krzysztof Duda (16). For Carlsen, it was also perfect revenge, having lost back-to-back games to Gukesh in the classical and rapid formats.
India Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Magnus Carlsen wins Grand Chess Tour Zagreb: My B-game is enough
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen reacted to his SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz win in Croatia on Sunday, July 6. After the final standings of the tournament were made official, Carlsen said on social media that his 'B-game was enough' on days when others did not do something who lost the Rapid title in the competition to India's D. Gukesh, came back strongly in the Blitz section of the tournament, helping him win the combined title. He took a dig at his critics with a meme before deleting the nobody else has a great performance, my B-game is usually enough. Always striving for more though!' Magnus tweeted out for the second time after his win. Carlsen had earlier complained about not enjoying his chess during the Rapid round. Even after his win in Zagreb, Magnus sounded unconvinced, stating that it did not feel like he had won.'It doesn't feel like I've won, really. It feels like I just came here, played alright, and nobody really did anything special in the end, and then I usually end up winning!' Magnus told Take Take Take app in an his poor outing in Rapid, the Blitz portion brought a complete reversal of fortunes. Gukesh lost five of his first six Blitz games on Day 1, drawing one and winning just one. His rhythm was off, nerves visible, and the crisp precision of his Rapid games was nowhere to be found. A final-round loss to compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa capped a disappointing Blitz performance that saw him lose six games on the first day stark contrast, Carlsen unleashed what he later called a 'decisive' run, scoring 7.5/9 on the opening Blitz day to erase Gukesh's lead and seize control of the leaderboard.'I felt that I struggled most of the event. Partly because it was a very strong field this year. There weren't a lot of weaker players at all. It wasn't obvious who was going to score poorly and who was going to score well against the others. It felt like, especially in Rapid, chances were kind of hard to come by. I had one good day yesterday (the first day of the Blitz section on Saturday) and that turned out to be enough,' Carlsen told the broadcaster in an interview on the final went on to add: 'It speaks to the fact that it was a fairly even tournament overall. Nobody could really break away from the pack. It doesn't feel like I won. It feels like I just came here and played alright. Nobody really did anything special in the end. Then I usually end up winning,' he concluded.- EndsTrending Reel
NDTV
06-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Grand Chess Tour: Magnus Carlsen Wins SuperUnited Rapid And Blitz With A Round To Spare
World number one Magnus Carlsen yet again proved he is the best in the world as he won the Super United Rapid and blitz chess tournament with a round to spare while reigning world champion D. Gukesh finished third in the standings. After falling as many as four points behind Gukesh in the nine-round rapid event, Carlsen made the most of it in the blitz section games, scoring 7.5 points out of nine in the first leg. In the return games his score of four points out of first eight games was enough to grant him another tournament victory. Gukesh, who started off brilliantly in the rapid section bagging as many as 14 points went out of sorts in the blitz section scoring just 1.5 out of his first nine games. Even though he made some steady progress in the last nine blitz games, it was never enough to catch Carlsen. Carlsen ended the event with 22.5 points, 2.5 points ahead of American Wesley So who finished second while Gukesh eventually came third with 19.5. Out of the 17,5000 USD prize pool Carlsen won 40,000, Wesley 30,000 and Gukesh won 25,000 with the fact that he proved his critics wrong by performing exceptionally. Gukesh ended the event on 19.5 points, half point ahead of Alireza Firouzja of France and Duda Jan-Krzysztof of Poland. The sixth place went to Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan ahead of Fabiano Caruana of United States and Anish Giri of Holland. India's R Praggnanandhaa, after winning as many as three Classical events this year, had a rare low as he ended ninth on 15 points while Ivan Saric of Croatia was tenth on 13 points. Gukesh could have done better in a game of fluctuating fortunes had he converted his extra pawn to a victory over Praggnanandhaa in the final round game. However, as it happened, the endgame the duo reached was a theoretical draw and there was little to play for. However, the world's youngest ever world champion can take this as a positive result in the faster version of the game. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
