Magnus Carlsen Open to Being Surpassed as World No.1 Chess Player

World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, known for his dominance in the world of chess, has made a surprising statement regarding his position at the top of the rankings. In a recent interview, Carlsen expressed his willingness to be surpassed by another player and even suggested that chess ratings today are somewhat ‘deflated’.

The 33-year-old Norwegian, who is currently preparing for the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz tournament, stated, “I don’t play a lot of classical chess, so whenever somebody is going to pass me, I wouldn’t particularly mind. I think a lot of people had the chance to surpass me, but we’ll see when it happens. I think it sort of depends on others.”

Currently, Fabiano Caruana is trailing just behind Carlsen in the rankings, followed by Hikaru Nakamura, Arjun Erigaisi, and D Gukesh. Carlsen also commented on the current ratings system, noting, “There’s definitely been deflation in chess ratings, so a level of ELO 2830 would probably correspond to 2850 about 10 years ago, and not a lot of people have reached that.”

Despite his willingness to potentially be overtaken, Carlsen’s reign as the world number 1 player has been one of the longest and most dominant in chess history. He first achieved the top ranking in January 2010 at the age of 19 and has held it almost continuously since July 1, 2011.

Since opting out of the World Championship in 2023, Carlsen has been selective about the tournaments he participates in, focusing on rapid, blitz, and other flexible events that align with his evolving interests. His approach to the game has garnered both admiration and curiosity from the chess community.

As Carlsen continues to navigate his career and explore new opportunities in the world of chess, fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see how his legacy unfolds.