Magnus Carlsen underlines his chess prowess after World Blitz Championship win, sends message to critics: ‘Ruling me out...'

Magnus Carlsen did not shy away from asserting his credentials, declaring that he remains the best chess player in the world in faster formats and that ruling him out of contention in any tournament is a bad idea. The world No. 1 underlined that claim by winning a record-extending ninth World Blitz title on Tuesday, prevailing in testing conditions.

Despite winning the Rapid world title a few days back, Carlsen had a horrible time in the qualifying round of the Blitz World Championship, losing multiple games, including one to India's Arjun Erigaisi. It was touch and go as Carlsen secured a place in the semi-finals by playing out a draw vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov in Round 19.

In the semi-finals, Carlsen defeated American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana 3-1. In the final, Carlsen was once again up against Uzbek Abdusattorov, who won the first game. After three games, the score was level at 1.5 points each.

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The final moments of the 2025 FIDE World Blitz Championship
Magnus Carlsen wins against Nodirbek Abdusattorov#RapidBlitz pic.twitter.com/XWAZrSLimg

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 30, 2025

Abdusattorov also offered a draw in the fourth and final game to Carlsen, who refused to shake hands and came back with a unique pawn move to clinch the title by winning the final 2.5-1.5. This is Carlsen’s 20th world title victory.

Magnus defies odds, wins ninth World Blitz title

Reflecting on his incredible comeback in the Blitz World Championship, Carlsen admitted that he was pushed to the brink due to his poor temperament and play, but enjoyed the return to his best.

“This was definitely one of my tougher ones,” Carlsen said in the press conference. “I wasn’t doing a lot of the right things in the first 14 rounds. My pace was too slow and I generally could not keep my cool in time trouble, which is a pretty bad combination when you are playing slowly. Then things turned a bit and I won a couple of games and I started to feel a little bit better. I think I beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the penultimate round.

“I think he played fairly well, and at that point, I had a few wins under my belt and I was starting to feel a bit better. Once we got to knockouts, I thought I should really try and enjoy this because I didn’t necessarily expect to be there. It was very tough. As everybody saw, it could have gone differently, but nevertheless I felt that I was playing with house money at that time. Incredibly tough, but the Blitz championship is really important to me since it’s one of my favourite formats to play.

“I may not always look like that, but I really enjoy the challenge and since it’s many rounds and now knockouts as well, it just makes it very very challenging. Very satisfying win. Very very tough event, but super happy that I managed to, at some point, defy the odds and come back.”

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

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🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/AvmmRJ0xSs

— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) December 30, 2025

When asked if he had lost a bit of his mojo, Carlsen was quick to point out that he remains the best chess player in the world.

“I don’t think I am getting worse compared to my opponents,” Carlsen said. “I think the Rapid is a different kind of event because I don’t expect to win it in the same way, but I did feel here that the Blitz was mine to lose. That, since it’s a lot of rounds, 19, and four qualifiers, I felt I would really need to play subpar to not make it, which almost happened, but so the pressure I put on myself with that sometimes can make it difficult, but apart from that I don’t think I have gotten remarkably worse at speed chess for sure.”

The 35-year-old Norwegian was also asked if this was one of his best world title wins. Carlsen said that the 2016 World Chess Championship victory over Russian Sergey Karjakin was his toughest title win, but added that even if he is not in good form, his detractors must stop ruling him out.

“My toughest title win is the 2016 Classical World Chess Championship win. If you are talking purely Blitz titles, it’s probably this one and the 2017 when I had to really dig out of really really deep hole after the first day. Feels good and I don’t think I looked likely to win this event, but as long as I am not mathematically eliminated, you know, ruling me out is probably not a good idea.”