Controversy in Chess: Magnus Carlsen Shares World Title for First Time

In a historic turn of events, the world title in chess has been shared for the first time ever. World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi agreed to share the title after their final match ended in a tie in New York. This decision, approved by Fide president Arkady Dvorkovich, marks the eighth world blitz title for Carlsen and a first for Nepomniachtchi.

The match between Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi was intense, with four out of seven games being decisive. In a surprising move captured on video, Carlsen suggested to Nepomniachtchi that they could play short draws until Fide gave up on deciding a winner. However, Fide ultimately allowed the shared title, much to the dismay of the chess community.

Carlsen explained his reasoning for suggesting the shared title, stating that it would have been cruel for one player to take first place while the other took second. Nepomniachtchi also weighed in on the decision, comparing it to shared gold medals in other sports events.

The shared title has sparked controversy within the chess community, with many viewing it as a mockery of regulations and competition. This comes after Fide relaxed dress code regulations for Carlsen, allowing him to compete in jeans after initially pulling out of the tournament for being asked to change.

In other news, Vaishali Rameshbabu of India won a bronze medal in the blitz event, marking India’s second medal in the tournament after Koneru Humpy’s gold in the world rapid. Despite no Indian player from the open section making the podium, Vaishali’s impressive performance in the blitz event solidified her as a rising star in the chess world.