Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen
Sven Magnus Øen Carlsenis a Norwegian chess grandmaster, and the current World Chess Champion...
NationalityNorwegian
ProfessionChess Player
Date of Birth30 November 1990
CityTonsberg, Norway
CountryNorway
thinking self play
For me right now I think being the world number one is a bigger deal than being the world champion because I think it shows better who plays the best chess. That sounds self-serving but I think it's also right.
self-confidence winning opportunity
Self-confidence is very important. If you don't think you can win, you will take cowardly decisions in the crucial moments, out of sheer respect for your opponent. You see the opportunity but also greater limitations than you should. I have always believed in what I do on the chessboard, even when I had no objective reason to. It is better to overestimate your prospects than underestimate them.
okay opponent people plays
Some people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it's okay to lose. I don't. You have to be merciless.
rap
I'm not really into rap.
people
It's just not my nature to go around idolizing people.
player chess different
It's easy for me to get along with chess players. Even though we are all very different, we have chess in common.
player norway being-the-best
My former coach, Simen Agdestein, used to be the best player in Norway.
success winning chess
Not winning a tournament is not an option for me, unless it's no longer theoretically possible - then of course winning becomes impossible. But up to that point, not winning is just not an option.
school play people
I was lucky enough to attend schools where they were understanding about when I needed to go abroad to play chess. Of course, socially it is important to go to school and interact with people your own age.
winning men thinking
I can’t count the times I have lagged seemingly hopelessly far behind, and nobody except myself thinks I can win. But I have pulled myself in from desperate [situations]. When you are behind there are two strategies - counter-attack or all men to the defences. I’m good at finding the right balance between those.
might chess normal
I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.
games important psychological
I really enjoy the experience of playing humans. The psychological game is so much more important.
nice care too-much
It's nice to be financially secure. Apart from that, I really don't care too much about money.
sorry lying player
I feel sorry for players who are always lying awake at night, brooding over their games.