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Magnus Carlsen’s latest admission offered further evidence of the challenges he now faces.
Magnus Carlsen admits he struggled to recall details during the game. (AP Photo)
At the ongoing Norway Chess, world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen has admitted that he is beginning to feel the effects of time.
“We’re getting old,” Carlsen remarked during a confessional appearance midway through his game against Wesley So, a contest that ultimately ended in defeat and left the Norwegian languishing at the bottom of the six-player standings.
As is customary at Norway Chess, Carlsen stepped into the tournament’s confessional booth – an innovation that was introduced in 2015 which allows players to share their thoughts and emotions while games are in progress.
In a video posted by Norway Chess on X, the 35-year-old delivered a candid reflection on his state of mind, linking his struggles at the board to a growing sense that age is beginning to take its toll.
“So, this is my diary of the day so far…Johannes, a good friend of mine, came by for lunch and we were talking about how we were both like struggling with memory these days, and like he’s the same age as me and that we’re getting old and so on…and this is me right now,” he confessed.
The comments gain significance since they came from player who has spent the major part of his career at the summit of the sport and set the standards for others to follow for nearly two decades.
Carlsen has won more than 20 world titles across formats, including five classical world championships and besides being a seven-time Norway Chess champion, he’s also the current title-holder.
Yet signs of changing priorities have emerged in recent years. In 2022, Carlsen stepped away from the World Championship cycle, citing the increasingly demanding preparation required and a lack of motivation for the opening-intensive nature of modern classical chess.
His latest admission offered further evidence of the challenges he now faces.
Before the start of his game against American Grandmaster Wesley So on Saturday, Carlsen revealed that despite reviewing opening lines shortly before play, he was struggling to recall them. He also admitted needing coffee to boost his energy levels – something he said was never necessary earlier in his career.
“…like I literally was checking these lines just before I started the game and I like have some clue but I don’t remember any details whatsoever. Hopefully, things will get better in the course of the game like in a proper dad move as well.
“I just had some coffee to try and cheer myself up, which I never used to do but now it’s just, yeah, it’s tough. It’s not easy out there,” he confessed.
The game did not improve for Carlsen. So went on to defeat the Norwegian, recording only his second classical victory over the world No. 1 – both coming at Norway Chess.
A day earlier, Carlsen had offered another glimpse into his mindset, joking that he would rather watch football than stare at another chessboard. During Friday’s confessional session, he said he wished one of the giant screens in the playing hall would switch from the chess action to the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.
“Also, there are like two sets of monitors up on the stage showing the (chess) games. And, personally, I would not mind if one of the monitors of my game was switched out with PSG vs Arsenal. I don’t know…let me know,” Carlsen asked his legion of fans to comment before the start of the PSG vs Arsenal game.
“I’ve polled a few people so far, I don’t think I found any non-Arsenal fans…fan that hopes that they win this match or anything in general, but let me know,” added Carlsen, a Real Madrid fan.
With PTI Inputs
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