 "Magnus Carlsen speaks on his possible return to World Chess Championship. Image: PTI")
Magnus Carlsen has reiterated that he is not interested in reclaiming the world chess title, having vacated the position in 2022. In 2021, Carlsen stated that he would consider defending his title if Alireza Firouzja qualified for the 2023 World Chess Championship. However, he now asserts that no one can change his mind.
No player can entice Carlsen back to World Championship
India’s D Gukesh is currently the world chess champion, having beaten Ding Liren in the 2024 World Chess Championship in December last year. Gukesh is the youngest champion of all time at 18, but taking him on in the 2026 title fight is also not something that interests Carlsen.
“I don’t see that at the moment. I think it’s very, very unlikely,” Carlsen told Reuters on Monday when asked about his possible return to the World Chess Championship cycle. “At the moment, no (other player would convince me to give it a go),” he added.
Carlsen, however, did not shy away from stating that while he is not preparing for the World Chess Championship, he still wants to prove to younger players that he remains the best. The 34-year-old Norwegian has held the world No. 1 ranking for the past 13 years and boasts the highest-ever Elo rating of 2882, but the competition is rising with five out of the top 10 players currently born in the 2000s.
Carlsen may take up mentoring in future
The five-time world champion also added that mentoring the youngsters is something he can take up in the future, just like legendary Garry Kasparov.
“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,” Carlsen said.
“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.”
Instead of regaining the world title, Carlsen’s focus lately has been on the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour which he founded alongside a German businessman. The first leg of the tour took place in Germany in February and the next is scheduled for April in Paris.