Magnus Carlsen, born on November 30, 1990, in Tønsberg, Norway, is a renowned chess grandmaster who achieved the grandmaster title in 2004 at the age of 13 years, 4 months, and 27 days.
Carlsen became the World Chess Champion in 2013 by defeating Viswanathan Anand and successfully defended his title in subsequent matches against Anand (2014), Sergey Karjakin (2016), Fabiano Caruana (2018), and Ian Nepomniachtchi (2021). In 2023, he chose not to defend his title, citing a lack of motivation to play classical chess due to the dominance of opening preparation.
In 2024, Carlsen continued to excel in various formats. He won the Chessable Masters in February, organized and triumphed in the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge—a Fischer Random chess tournament—in the same month, and secured his fourth Speed Chess Championship title in September by defeating Alireza Firouzja. Additionally, he led Team Norway to a 14th-place finish at the 45th Chess Olympiad and clinched the Julius Baer Generation Cup by overcoming Firouzja in the final. Carlsen also won the Champions Chess Tour for the fifth consecutive time in December.
Beyond his competitive achievements, Carlsen has been instrumental in promoting chess globally. He launched an app called “Take Take Take” to make following live games more accessible and engaging. His influence, combined with cultural phenomena like the Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit,” has contributed to a surge in chess’s popularity.
Carlsen’s passion for football is well-known, and he has expressed interest in playing chess against football stars like Mohamed Salah. He once topped the Fantasy Football rankings in 2020, showcasing his analytical skills beyond the chessboard.
Recognized as one of the greatest chess players of all time, Carlsen’s contributions to the game continue to inspire both current players and new enthusiasts worldwide.