The world of chess has been left pondering about what would occur if stars like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura name it a day and cease taking part in classical chess, as indicated by the Norwegian world no 1 just lately. 5-time world champion Carlsen has anyway lowered his classical appearances to a naked minimal — the continued Norway Chess is probably going the one classical match he will probably be competing on this yr as he trains his concentrate on taking part in in sooner time management occasions, freestyle occasions and occasions just like the Esports World Cup. Nakamura too has spoken extra regularly lately about dialling down on the longest — and the purest — format of the sport.
However former world champion Viswanathan Anand, who can also be a Deputy President in FIDE, the worldwide governing physique of the game, believes that the game can endure even when the most well-liked crowd-pullers like Carlsen and Nakamura stroll away.
“In a way, we will’t ask what’s the longer term each time any person decides to dial it down. I imply, no one requested me. I additionally dialed it down (lowered taking part in in tournaments). So what’s going to occur? So the game goes on. There are tons of of latest skills. 11-year-olds, 80-year-olds. It’s coming at each ends. It’s a standard a part of life, I feel,” Anand instructed journalists from India through the ongoing Norway Chess match.
Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand on the Norway Chess broadcast. (Specific Picture | Amit Kamath
“Magnus and Hikaru have marketed this for a while (them not taking part in classical chess). I imply, Hikaru doesn’t play very a lot anyway, he’s actually fairly busy along with his different commitments, streaming and so forth. And the identical with Magnus. He has talked about this many instances that he desires to work on this and that. And on this case, we had a whole lot of warning. I imply, Magnus has been speaking about it for no less than six years. Then this sort of got here into focus in 2022, through the Madrid Candidates match. And it’s the identical with Hikaru. So it’s by no means sudden.
Carlsen made international headlines just lately after slamming a balled fist on the chess board after an uncharacteristic error from him resulted in a defeat to Gukesh, his first loss to the reigning world champion from India. Carlsen later mentioned that classical chess was not “enjoyable in any respect” for him. He talked about that in some unspecified time in the future through the sport towards Gukesh he was asking himself why he was taking part in the format in any respect, and later additionally talked about that he ought to “possibly completely cease taking part in classical chess.”
Nakamura too had mentioned that there was a very good probability (about 80 p.c) that the world had seen them taking part in towards one another at Norway Chess for the final time.
Carlsen had instructed Norway’s TV2, “I don’t suppose that (the sport towards Gukesh) was enjoyable. I’ve to think about find out how to keep away from it… possibly I ought to completely cease taking part in classical chess. It was not enjoyable for me in any respect. Usually I really feel I’ve performed effectively within the match however I don’t really feel it’s enjoyable taking part in. I’m not nervous about my degree.”
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On Gukesh
In the meantime, Anand additionally praised the 19-year-old Gukesh, who at present occupies the world champion’s throne. Gukesh began Norway Chess within the worst approach attainable, shedding to Carlsen after which Arjun Erigaisi within the first two video games, earlier than stabilising his match with some huge wins, together with the one towards Carlsen and Arjun as effectively.
“He’s powerful, fairly tenacious, copes fairly effectively with setbacks. Clearly, this (Norway Chess) is the next check, extra intense match, so he appears to be below stress each day, however a number of days he got here out (and performed effectively). I feel yesterday (towards Nakamura), he flipped a bit bit. one thing was off with him. However that’s additionally regular. You could have huge off days after a very good run,” Anand mentioned about his protege.
Requested if Gukesh ought to take a break from tournaments slightly than taking part in continuous, Anand mentioned: “It relies upon what you need to strive. And I additionally suppose you need to seize alternatives. Possibly going ahead, careers gained’t be as lengthy. It’s a must to schedule some timeouts, do some (few) tournaments. After this (Norway Chess), he will get a break. However I assume he’ll play Zagreb. So he’s received to benefit from the moments of break as effectively, as a result of there’s no use if the mind refuses to return alongside.”
(The author is in Stavanger on the invitation of Norway Chess. Matches are live-streamed on Sony LIV.)