Magnus Carlsen says others may chase the world number one as his chess priorities change

Magnus Carlsen seemed more aloof than dismissive when talking about his gradual shift away from classical chess, suggesting that after reigning at the top for more than a decade, his interests have naturally shifted, even if his supremacy remains intact.

The Norwegian icon said that after already conquering classical chess, he now finds more satisfaction in the rapid and flash formats. At the same time, he reminded the younger generation that they must first endure the relentless demands of elite classical competition and achieve what they have before they start to question where their priorities are now.

Carlsen added that he now prefers a “steadier diet” of all the formats the game has to offer.

“So there is at least some data to suggest that the rating I have now (in classical chess) is quite reasonable,” Carlsen was quoted as saying by PTI. Carlsen, who is chasing a record eighth Norwegian chess title, is also a reminder that even as he moves away from classical chess, he remains the benchmark the world still chases after.

“And then, yes, to maintain that level, the times I’m playing the classics, it’s kind of up to the others to run … and get that top spot in the world rankings,” he said.

“That’s for my priorities. I generally prefer the faster formats, at least as a more stable diet, but I enjoy everything,” added the Norwegian, who won both the World Rapid and the Blitz last year, despite the rise of an intrepid younger generation.

Carlsen distanced himself from him classic World Cup cycle largely due to waning motivationthe grueling rigors of opening preparation and growing dissatisfaction with the format.

“The ranking I have now is pretty reasonable – I don’t think I’m particularly better or worse than that… It’s kind of up to the others to step up and get that top spot in the world rankings” – @MagnusCarlsen to break @Kasparov63‘s record of being World #1 for 20 years. pic.twitter.com/6epcUJNXU4— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) May 25, 2026

After dominating classical chess and holding the undisputed world title for ten years, he often said that the thrill and personal meaning of defending the crown gradually disappeared.

While he’s closing in on Garry Kasparov’s legendary 20-year reign as world No. 1 — a mark Carlsen is roughly five years away from matching — The Norwegian insisted that he is no longer chasing recordshe recalled how his attempt to break the mythical 2900 rating barrier ultimately failed.

“I think the one time I talked about getting a board, it was 2900, and that didn’t go very well. I’m kind of giving up hope. So the other boards, I don’t know, I don’t play a lot of classical chess.

“But it seems that since the Qatar Masters in 2013, all my performances have been in the same range. Now it’s about the right doses (of different formats).”

Carlsen also supported innovations aimed at making chess more fun, saying that formats like Armageddon tie-breakers in Norwegian Chess add much-needed drama and reduce the monotony of draws.

“When the Germans were removed from the chess (for a short time after World War II), there was an outcry. When the time was cut from two and a half to two hours, there was an outcry about that, too.

“But times are changing and I think we want to have a balance between trying to play as well as possible but also leaving room for mistakes.”

He added that with modern preparation becoming increasingly sophisticated, two hours of thinking time per player was more than enough.

“Obviously as humans we’re flawed enough regardless of the format, but there’s a sense that with how advanced we are now in preparation and everything else, there has to be an element that makes it a bit harder than very classic time checks. Two hours of thinking is quite a long time,” he said.

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Published on:

25 May 2026 16:45 IST

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