 "Carlsen's ex-coach shuts down talk of Norwegian GM competing in 'B-events' to maintain No 1 Classical rating")
There has been some speculation over Magnus Carlsen’s ability to remain top of FIDE’s Classical ratings despite having virtually retired from the format in recent years. Carlsen has not been competing in too many Classical tournaments apart from Norway Chess – his home event – since he opted against defending his world title in 2023, but remains top of the list in Standard time controls.
Also Read | How long will Carlsen continue to reign as world No 1? Ex-Candidates winner makes a prediction
There are some who believe that the Norwegian Grandmaster has maintained himself at the No 1 spot, which he has occupied continuously since July 2011, by competing in lower-ranked events – somewhat similar world No 2 Hikaru Nakamura’s strategy to qualify for next year’s Candidates via the rating spot. Others accused FIDE’s ratings system of being flawed for allowing a semi-retired player to continue occupying the top spot instead of painting a more accurate picture of the present scenario.
Carlsen’s former coach gives evidence of participation in ‘strongest tournaments’
That theory, however, has been refuted by GM Peter Heine Nielsen, who was Carlsen’s coach for 16 years until 2023. In a post on X, the 52-year-old pointed out that while the 35-year-old isn’t a regular in Classical events anymore, he certainly does not compete in “B-events” as some have claimed.
“The idea that Magnus Carlsen only plays “B-events” simply is not true. He played the 9 strongest tournaments of 2025, include St. Louis Clutch 4 player event, he played all 10!” Nielsen wrote on X that carried an image of the strongest chess tournaments last year.
The strongest Chess tournaments of 2025, listed by FIDE´s TAR ( Tournament average rating) standard.
— Peter Heine Nielsen (@PHChess) January 5, 2026
The idea that Magnus Carlsen only plays "B-events" simply is not true.
He played the 9 strongest tournaments of 2025, include St. Louis Clutch 4 player event, he played all 10! pic.twitter.com/eIQe1ReWmd
While Norway Chess was at the very top of the list with an average rating of 2791, there were several non-Classical events mentioned including the World Rapid and Blitz Championships as well as the various events in the inaugural season of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour.
Also Read | 'Magnus Carlsen will probably never return to World Championship, and we have to accept that': Anish Giri
Also listed was ‘Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown’ – a Rapid event with an average rating of 2808 that took place at the Saint Louis Chess Club in St Louis, USA and had Nakamura and world No 3 Fabiano Caruana as well as reigning world champion D Gukesh. Carlsen ended up winning the event with 25.5 points – nearly 10 points ahead of second-placed Caruana.
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