Magnus Carlsen remains confident in his abilities against the younger generation of chess players but has reiterated that he has no intention of returning to the classical World Chess Championship.
Carlsen, who stepped away from defending his title in 2022 due to a lack of motivation, has since been succeeded by China’s Ding Liren and India’s teenage sensation, D. Gukesh. Despite this transition, the 34-year-old Norwegian remains at the top of the FIDE world rankings and continues to dominate various chess formats.
No Plans for a Championship Comeback
When asked if he would consider reclaiming the world title, Carlsen was firm in his response.
“I don’t see that at the moment. I think it’s very, very unlikely,” he told Reuters on Monday.
Back in 2021, Carlsen had stated that he might reconsider his decision if French-Iranian prodigy Alireza Firouzja won the Candidates Tournament. However, at this point, no opponent seems compelling enough to bring him back into the championship fold.
“At the moment, no (other player would convince me to give it a go),” he added.
Focusing on New Ventures
Rather than competing in the classical format, Carlsen has turned his attention to reshaping the chess landscape. He has spearheaded the Freestyle Grand Slam, an event that encourages innovative and dynamic gameplay, and has also partnered with the Esports World Cup, blending chess with digital gaming platforms.
While he has not ruled out coaching in the future—taking inspiration from his own mentor, Garry Kasparov—Carlsen is primarily focused on playing at the highest level.
“I mainly enjoy playing, but I don’t rule that (mentoring) out for the future. I already enjoy it when younger players ask me for advice and so on,” he shared.
“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, but at the moment I’m trying to certainly prove that I’m still better than the kids.”
Clashes with FIDE and a Shift in Focus
Carlsen’s decision to step away from the classical championship was not without controversy. Last year, he shared the Blitz World Championship title with Ian Nepomniachtchi, following a dispute with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) over a dress code violation.
The Norwegian has had multiple disagreements with FIDE and even called for its president, Arkady Dvorkovich, to step down amid a conflict involving the Freestyle Chess Players Association. However, Carlsen appears to have moved past these disputes.
“I’m not really very interested in what FIDE are doing. I’m sort of trying to do my things, being with the Esports World Cup, Chess.com, Freestyle,” he stated, signaling a peaceful coexistence between his initiatives and FIDE.
“FIDE’s crown jewel is the classical world championship, right? That’s what gives FIDE legacy and legitimacy, and none of us are going after that. So I think we’ll sort of coexist. I’m happy not playing the classical world championship. I’m kind of done with that and now I’m following it as a fan.”
Upcoming Challenges
Carlsen is set to compete in the Freestyle Grand Slam Paris leg next month and will also represent Team Liquid at the Esports World Cup, where he aims to prove that experience still holds an edge over youth in faster chess formats.
Naming Alireza Firouzja and Hikaru Nakamura as his biggest challengers, Carlsen believes rapid and blitz formats remain his stronghold.
“It takes a little bit more time (for the youngsters) to build strength in faster formats than it does in classical chess,” he explained.
“So I think the old guys, like Maxime (Vachier-Lagrave of France) and I, will stick around for a bit still. When it comes to motivation, it’s very hard to say, but I find it hard to believe that my level is just going to drop off a cliff. I think there’s certainly going to be some steady decline, but I think I can keep going for at least a few years.”
Despite stepping away from the classical championship, Carlsen continues to redefine his legacy, proving that he remains one of the most formidable forces in the chess world.