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Magnus Carlsen, the undisputed king of chess and a name synonymous with brilliance over the 64 squares, has sparked intrigue with his latest revelation about life after retirement. The Norwegian phenom, often hailed as the greatest of all time (GOAT), boasts a résumé that reads like fiction: five World Chess Championship crowns, a record eight World Blitz titles, and victories over legends like Viswanathan Anand.
But after dominating the game for over a decade, Carlsen has begun peering beyond the board. In a candid moment, the 33-year-old teased his plans if he ever steps away from competitive chess—and it’s not what fans might expect.
Magnus Carlsen’s vision beyond the board
While Carlsen isn’t hanging up his rook just yet, he’s already envisioning a role that could shape chess’s next generation. Drawing parallels to Garry Kasparov, the iconic mentor-turned-legend, Magnus Carlsen hinted at a future where he guides budding talents.
“I mainly enjoy playing, but I don’t rule that [mentoring] out for the future,” he shared. “I already enjoy it when younger players ask me for advice… But I feel like for the moment, I really enjoy playing and I’m really good at it still. So that may be something for the future.”
The chess maestro emphasized his current focus on outsmarting the sport’s rising stars, quipping, “I’m trying to certainly prove that I’m still better than the kids.” His competitive fire still burns—evident in his recent pivot to the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, a passion project he co-founded to revolutionize the game’s format. The tour’s inaugural leg in Germany and its upcoming Paris stop underscore Carlsen’s desire to innovate while he dominates.
Why mentoring makes sense for the GOAT
Carlsen’s flirtation with mentorship isn’t surprising. His analytical prowess and deep understanding of the game could transform prodigies into champions. Unlike Kasparov, who mentored Magnus Carlsen himself briefly, the Norwegian seems inclined to balance guidance with his own legacy. “At the moment,” he stresses, his priority remains competing—but the seeds of a post-retirement blueprint are sown.
For now, fans can relish his ongoing rivalry with Gen-Z talents and his quest to redefine chess through ventures like the Freestyle Tour. Yet, Carlsen’s openness about life after competition offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a legend who’s already strategizing his next move. Whether he’s teaching, innovating, or simply enjoying retirement, one thing’s clear: Magnus Carlsen’s influence on chess will endure long after his final checkmate.
