MAGNUS CARLSEN

Sven Magnus Carlsen (born on November 30,1990 ) is a Norwegian chess grandmaster who is the current World Chess Champion, World Rapid Chess Champion and World Blitz Chess Champion. Carlsen first reached the top of the FIDE world rankings in 2010, and trails only Garry Kasparov in time spent as the highest rated player in the world. His peak classical rating of 2882 is the highest in history.

A chess prodigy, Carlsen tied for first place in the World U12 Chess Championship in 2002. Shortly after turning 13, he finished first in the C group of the Corus chess tournament, and earned the grandmaster title a few months later. At age 15, he won the Norwegian Chess Championship, and at 17, he finished joint first in the top group of Corus. He surpassed a rating of 2800 at age 18 and reached number one in the FIDE world rankings aged 19, becoming the youngest person ever to achieve those feats.

Carlsen became World Chess Champion in 2013 by defeating Viswanathan Anand. In the following year, he retained his title against Anand, and won both the 2014 World Rapid Championship and World Blitz Championship, thus becoming the first player to hold all three titles simultaneously; a feat he repeated in 2019. He defended his classical world title against Sergey Karjakin in 2016, and against Fabiano Caruana in 2018.

Known for his attacking style as a teenager, Carlsen has since developed into a universal player. He uses a variety of openings to make it more difficult for opponents to prepare against him and reduce the effect of computer analysis. He has stated the middlegame is his favourite part of the game as it "comes down to pure chess". His positional mastery and endgame prowess have drawn comparisons to those of former World Champions Bobby Fischer, Anatoly Karpov, Vasily Smyslov, and José Raúl Capablanca.

As of 2016, Carlsen is identified as a social democrat and mostly follows a vegetarian diet, as two of his sisters are vegetarians.

Carlsen is an avid fan of football, with Real Madrid CF as his favourite club. In recognition of becoming world chess champion, he took the honorary kick-off in a La Liga game between Real Madrid and Real Valladolid on 30 November 2013. Carlsen also follows the Premier League and plays fantasy football. In December 2019, he reached the No. 1 spot on the Fantasy Premier League game, ahead of seven million other players.

Notable games:

Carlsen vs M Vachier-Lagrave, 2005 (B84) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 40 moves, 1-0

A Riazantsev vs Carlsen, 2005 (E12) Queen's Indian, 36 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs R Prasca Sosa, 2006 (C11) French, 33 moves, 1-0

J Smeets vs Carlsen, 2006 (B33) Sicilian, 43 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs T Gulbrandsen, 2002 (C05) French, Tarrasch, 35 moves, 1-0

Magnus traps queen twice, once in the game, once in the notes Pelletier vs Carlsen, 2006 (E15) Queen's Indian, 35 moves, 0-1

V Malakhov vs Carlsen, 2005 (C55) Two Knights Defense, 49 moves, 0-1

25 ... Ra8-d8!! highlights magnificent win by Magnus Naiditsch vs Carlsen, 2006 (C57) Two Knights, 54 moves, 0-1

Featured in Chessbase Magazine 115 Move By Move column (King) L E Johannessen vs Carlsen, 2006 (A58) Benko Gambit, 36 moves, 0-1

Carlsen's win over Michael Adams from the 2006 Turin Olympiad Carlsen vs Adams, 2006 (A17) English, 73 moves, 1-0

Carlsen forces draw, wins match with spectacular 78 - Be7xc5+!! Adams vs Carlsen, 2007 (C96) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 83 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bacrot vs Carlsen, 2007 (E15) Queen's Indian, 32 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Short, 2004 (D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 54 moves, 1-0

Magnus wins a drawish position with incredible PINNING idea Carlsen vs Onischuk, 2007 (D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 39 moves, 1-0

Magnus Carlsen's first ever win in the Corus A-group Mamedyarov vs Carlsen, 2008 (B30) Sicilian, 40 moves, 0-1

Magnus makes every one of his pieces better than his opponent's Carlsen vs Eljanov, 2008 (D91) Grunfeld, 5.Bg5, 54 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs N Ibraev, 2004 (E38) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 4...c5, 17 moves, 1-0

Magnus second(!) player to beat White Kramnik since May 2006! Kramnik vs Carlsen, 2008 (A30) English, Symmetrical, 57 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Van Wely, 2006 (B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 34 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Nunn, 2006 (B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 45 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Shirov, 2007 (C78) Ruy Lopez, 26 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs R Pruijssers, 2007 (C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 40 moves, 1-0

Stefansson vs Carlsen, 2007 (D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 25 moves, 0-1

Magnus conducts incredible, imaginative mating attack Carlsen vs G Tallaksen Ostmoe, 2005 (E15) Queen's Indian, 37 moves, 1-0

13(!)-year old Magnus Carlsen almost beats Kasparov! Carlsen vs Kasparov, 2004 (D52) Queen's Gambit Declined, 52 moves, 1/2-1/2

"a textbook example of how to play a non-mainline Dutch" Carlsen vs L Danner, 2003 (A80) Dutch, 54 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs A Groenn, 2005 (D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 24 moves, 1-0

The game that ended my doubts about Magnus Carlsen Carlsen vs G Vescovi, 2006 (B46) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 39 moves, 1-0

19 Rg7xh7? 0-0! is standard 0-0-0 tactical trick played by 0-0 Karjakin vs Carlsen, 2007 (B30) Sicilian, 34 moves, 0-1

Magnus forks his way to first win over Anand Carlsen vs Anand, 2008 (A20) English, 48 moves, 1-0

Magnus trades a center pawn to create a queenside pawn majority M Bartel vs Carlsen, 2008 (B30) Sicilian, 43 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs H A Gretarsson, 2003 (D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 32 moves, 1-0

Bacrot vs Carlsen, 2008 (E21) Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights, 62 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Adams, 2008 (E37) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 56 moves, 1-0

Carlsen wipes out Van Wely using Romanishin gambit in Nimzo Van Wely vs Carlsen, 2008 (E36) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 26 moves, 0-1

Magnus beats Romanishin gambit in Nimzo Indian Carlsen vs Naiditsch, 2007 (E36) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 49 moves, 1-0

White Kramnik beat everyone in the tourney except for Magnus Kramnik vs Carlsen, 2007 (E06) Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2

Carlsen's best game in Aerosvit, beating Ivanchuk's KID Carlsen vs Ivanchuk, 2008 (E97) King's Indian, 46 moves, 1-0

Carlsen wins an instructive opposite-colored bishops ending Carlsen vs Pelletier, 2008 (E15) Queen's Indian, 64 moves, 1-0

Carlsen has the better half of a tremendous fighting draw E Alekseev vs Carlsen, 2008 (E15) Queen's Indian, 47 moves, 1/2-1/2

Magnus rolls White up like a Cuban cigar using Pirc(!) defense G Kaiser vs Carlsen, 2000 (B08) Pirc, Classical, 36 moves, 0-1

Carlsen simply demolishes Karpov in a blitz game Carlsen vs Karpov, 2008 (E15) Queen's Indian, 27 moves, 1-0

Carlsen wins fine Black game against Aronian at Bilbao Aronian vs Carlsen, 2008 (A32) English, Symmetrical Variation, 51 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Ponomariov, 2008 (B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 37 moves, 1-0

Carlsen defeats the World #1 player as a 16-year old! Carlsen vs Topalov, 2007 (D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 64 moves, 1-0

Carlsen sacrifices *two* pawns against Aronian and wins Carlsen vs Aronian, 2008 (D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 36 moves, 1-0

Carlsen's *awesome* blindfold win over Mamedyarov in Sicilian Carlsen vs Mamedyarov, 2008 (B46) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 34 moves, 1-0

Carlsen's *awesome* blindfold win over Gelfand in Najdorf Carlsen vs Gelfand, 2008 (B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 33 moves, 1-0

Carlsen slays Radjabov's dragon, wins Brilliancy Prize @ Bilbao Carlsen vs Radjabov, 2008 (B78) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 10.castle long, 37 moves, 1-0

Carlsen annotates brilliant win in Magazine 2006/1, Yearbook 79 Carlsen vs Kamsky, 2005 (B43) Sicilian, Kan, 5.Nc3, 48 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs V Malakhov, 2005 (D15) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 34 moves, 1-0

Carlsen easily defeats 2600 with outstanding piece coordination J Rowson vs Carlsen, 2008 (D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 48 moves, 0-1

Tour de force by Carlsen, great tactical play routs a 2700 Jakovenko vs Carlsen, 2007 (E20) Nimzo-Indian, 41 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs H Harestad, 2003 (C98) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 38 moves, 1-0

Carlsen wins the Sokolov prize for the best game of round 10 Carlsen vs L Dominguez, 2009 (D81) Grunfeld, Russian Variation, 39 moves, 1-0

Carlsen crushes Mamedyarov's Petrosian QID at 2008 Amber Rapid Mamedyarov vs Carlsen, 2008 (E12) Queen's Indian, 44 moves, 0-1

Magnus gets probably winning position but loses on time Kramnik vs Carlsen, 2008 (E17) Queen's Indian, 44 moves, 1-0

Carlsen uses his favorite Dragon to *easily* defeat Nisipeanu Nisipeanu vs Carlsen, 2008 (B72) Sicilian, Dragon, 37 moves, 0-1

Carlsen simply crushes Dominguez with Sicilian Chinese Dragon L Dominguez vs Carlsen, 2009 (B78) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 10.castle long, 54 moves, 0-1

"Carlsen just won a brilliant game!" -- Kasparov Carlsen vs Grischuk, 2009 (B84) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 37 moves, 1-0

Magnus *crushes* the life from Anand at Amber Blindfold 2009 Anand vs Carlsen, 2009 (B30) Sicilian, 34 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs I A Abusdal, 2003 (C00) French Defense, 25 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Leko, 2008 (B13) Caro-Kann, Exchange, 58 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Zhao Zong-Yuan, 2007 (E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 36 moves, 1-0

Stupendous victory over Topalov by Carlsen Carlsen vs Topalov, 2009 (D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 36 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs E Vladimirov, 2004 (B67) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 8...Bd7, 35 moves, 1-0

Carlsen *smashes* Anand on way to becoming World Blitz Champion Anand vs Carlsen, 2009 (D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 46 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Svidler, 2009 (B40) Sicilian, 47 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Ganguly, 2004 (A45) Queen's Pawn Game, 43 moves, 1-0

Carlsen annotates blitz victory over Bareev in NIC 2009/8 Carlsen vs Bareev, 2009 (B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 26 moves, 1-0

Carlsen plays the French and wins! Karjakin vs Carlsen, 2010 (C11) French, 45 moves, 0-1

Beating Dominguez's Grunfeld gives Carlsen tie for 1st at Corus Carlsen vs L Dominguez, 2010 (D97) Grunfeld, Russian, 45 moves, 1-0

Tactical tour de force by Carlsen: 37 Bxb6!, 47 Nc5!!, 55 e5+! Carlsen vs McShane, 2009 (E94) King's Indian, Orthodox, 61 moves, 1-0

Magnus squeezes a rook endgame win from a dead drawn position Carlsen vs Aronian, 2010 (C48) Four Knights, 68 moves, 1-0

Magnus wins an "equal" rook ending against Ponomariov Ponomariov vs Carlsen, 2010 (D86) Grunfeld, Exchange, 100 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Nakamura, 2010 (A10) English, 59 moves, 1-0

Carlsen *totally* outplays Karjakin on Black side of Breyer Karjakin vs Carlsen, 2010 (C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 41 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Wang Hao, 2011 (B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 29 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Nakamura, 2011 (B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 37 moves, 1-0

Kramnik vs Carlsen, 2011 (E00) Queen's Pawn Game, 80 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Nakamura, 2011 (D10) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 40 moves, 1-0

Magnus is the master of the Ruy Lopez Breyer variation J Smeets vs Carlsen, 2010 (C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 56 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Radjabov, 2009 (B30) Sicilian, 25 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs L Dominguez, 2007 (B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 42 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Nakamura, 2011 (D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 38 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Ivanchuk, 2011 (D38) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation, 72 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Anand, 2009 (D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 77 moves, 1-0

Carlsen creates three connected passer out of thin air!!!!!!!!! Carlsen vs F Vallejo Pons, 2010 (A07) King's Indian Attack, 29 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Nisipeanu, 2011 (D27) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 31 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Ivanchuk, 2011 (E21) Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights, 34 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Gelfand, 2011 (D12) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 38 moves, 1-0

Kramnik vs Carlsen, 2011 (A20) English, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

Karjakin vs Carlsen, 2009 (B20) Sicilian, 23 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs E Shaposhnikov, 2004 (E38) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 4...c5, 30 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs V Gashimov, 2012 (A30) English, Symmetrical, 67 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Azmaiparashvili, 2005 (D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 55 moves, 1-0

Carlsen vs Grischuk, 2012 (E92) King's Indian, 54 moves, 1-0

I Kurnosov vs Carlsen, 2012 (C67) Ruy Lopez, 64 moves, 0-1

Carlsen vs Gelfand, 2013 (B30) Sicilian, 48 moves, 1-0