Carlsen explains hard work vs talent in chess, reveals what it takes to be top 3: ‘There is definitely a ceiling’

Magnus Carlsen recently spoke on the difference between hard work and talent for top players and their roles in helping an individual climb to the top of the top of the sport. According to the Norwegian chess legend, who has been leading the chess rankings continuously since 2011 and is also a five-time world champion, there “definitely a ceiling” to how far a player can go without unique talent.

Carlsen emphasises on ‘unique talent’

Carlsen went on to add that it’s talent that sets the difference between a top-20 player and a top-three player.

“I think there is definitely a ceiling to how far you can reach without having pretty much unique talent.

“So for that, I think talent is more important. But, if you want to be a top-20 player instead of a top-three player, then I guess hard work may be just as important,” Carlsen said on the BotezLive show with Andrea and Alexandra Botez.

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Carlsen, who recently finished third in the opening event of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Weissenhaus, Germany, added that “genuine love for the game” automatically translated to hard work, citing the examples of leading Grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura (world No 2) and Alireza Firouzja.

“For me it comes down to genuine love for the game. I think if you have that, you will naturally work on the game without even thinking about it.

“Somebody like Alireza for instance, or Hikaru, they may not have thought of what they’re doing as hard work, but they’re playing all the time because they absolutely love it. And for them, it really works,” the 34-year-old added.

‘Gukesh has more of a systematic approach’

As for reigning world champion D Gukesh, who has been among the most dominant players in the Classical format since winning the Candidates tournament last April, Carlsen felt he had a more “systematic approach” compared to other players.

“Maybe somebody like Gukesh has more of a systematic approach. He’s more, maybe a typical hard worker. For instance, he’s never really played much Blitz, and probably it hasn’t suited his character.

“Regardless, you have to put in the hours, but exactly how you do it I think is very individual,” Carlsen added.

Carlsen will next be seen in action in the Paris leg of the Freestyle Chess Tour, where he will be up against Gukesh and other Indian chess stars such as Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa.