{"id":21645,"date":"2022-07-21T22:02:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-21T22:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/carlsens-abdication-reactions-from-the-chess-world\/"},"modified":"2022-07-21T22:02:02","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T22:02:02","slug":"carlsens-abdication-reactions-from-the-chess-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/carlsens-abdication-reactions-from-the-chess-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Carlsen’s Abdication: Reactions From The Chess World"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It wasn’t a bolt from the blue, but GM Magnus Carlsen’s decision not to defend his world title still came as shock to many. A day after the news came out, Chess.com gives an overview of reactions from the chess world.<\/p>\n

GM Vishy Anand, FIDE World Champion between 2000 and 2002 and the undisputed 15th world chess champion between 2007 and 2013, said to Chess.com in a voice message:<\/p>\n

“Magnus certainly hasn’t surprised anyone in the sense that he has been talking about let’s say his hesitation or turmoil about this subject for quite some time. I think the decision still comes as a mild surprise in the sense that you almost don’t think he will cross this bridge.<\/p>\n

But I understand his decision fully. In a way, I was also getting tired of playing matches every year or two years several times in a row. In a sense, because I lost, this problem solved itself. Magnus’s problem is a little bit that he isn’t losing.<\/p>\n

Look, I understand his decision. I think we can only have respect for his accomplishments and I wish him all the best with 2900!”<\/p>\n

Anand: “I wish him all the best with 2900!” Photo: Peter Doggers\/Chess.com.<\/figcaption>
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GM Vladimir Kramnik, the 14th world chess champion between 2000 and 2007, is currently recovering from Covid\u2014the reason why he sadly had to cancel his participation in Dortmund at the last moment. He replied in an email: “It’s a very rational decision, which was expected. Whether it’s good or bad for chess itself, who knows at this moment? We will see.”<\/p>\n

GM Garry Kasparov, the 13th world chess champion between 1985 and 2000, a series of tweets in posted a thread<\/a> on Twitter:<\/p>\n

My first thought was that I wished my mother were still alive to see someone else do what I did, or similar! Walking away from what everyone expects, or demands, you do takes courage. My sympathies are with Magnus.<\/p>\n

Of course, Magnus will still be playing–he’s playing right now in Zagreb. But he’s doing what he decided is best for his goals, not just personally to live his creative life, but to promote chess without fighting with FIDE guys about how he spends his time.<\/p>\n

I’m not a shrink or mind-reader, just sympathetic to even a world champion needing change, and wanting to see change in the chess world. And it needs it. FIDE has been a direct & indirect vehicle for Russian intelligence for decades and looks to continue as long as it’s useful.<\/p>\n

I’m still working to develop & promote chess globally via sponsorship, education, and technology, and I’m sure Magnus will too. Does anyone believe that’s what FIDE does? As I finally accepted in 2014 after I ran for FIDE president, its structure puts it beyond redemption.<\/p>\n

Magnus has been a great champion and will continue to be one. Perhaps there was no way to reconcile his need for creative expression and the classical match format I myself favor. So be it. On to new challenges and more great chess instead of politics! <\/p>\n

Staying on top is harder than getting to the top because you are competing against the feeling you have achieved your life’s goal already. Staying motivated after climbing the chess Olympus is like climbing Mount Everest a second time, or a sixth. Humans need purpose.<\/p>\n

In a comment to local TV, Kasparov gave a more political comment: “History repeats itself. Nearly 30 years ago I decided to walk away from FIDE. I understand there are probably many reasons for Magnus to make such a drastic decision. I guess he is not happy with FIDE as an organization, and I have been saying for many decades, that it’s not an entity that could guarantee the professional development of the game of chess. It’s still being controlled by Russia and I think under the current international conditions it’s probably not a good sign for the future of the organization.” <\/p>\n

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.@Kasparov63<\/span><\/a> he Magnus Carlsen #HRT<\/a>: “Povijest se ponavlja, a sada su Zagreb i Hrvatska u centru \u0161ahovskog svijeta” @GrandChessTour<\/span><\/a> #Chess<\/a> #Carlsen<\/a> #Kasparov<\/a> #SEEDLING<\/a> Vi\u0161e\u27a1\ufe0fhttps:\/\/t.co\/wIVnEqvKqy pic.twitter.com\/OBj079HZuc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 HRT Sport (@HRTsport<\/span>) July 20, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

GM Nigel Short co-founded the Professional Chess Association with Kasparov back in 1993 and played it the PCA’s first of three title matches. He emailed: “It is sad because Magnus is such a brilliant player and we all enjoy watching him. I can understand his decision though: I have only played one world championship match, and that was physically and emotionally draining enough. The toll of playing one after another must be stupendous. Again, the game is much bigger than one individual and we will move on. There will be new champions, with wonderful games, and we will admire them in turn.”<\/p>\n

GM Hikaru Nakamura feels that the result of his final-round game in the Candidates (where a draw was enough to finish second, but he lost instead) made a difference. He commented while discussing the news in a stream:<\/p>\n

“The Catch-22 here is that I had actually finished second, I’m pretty sure Magnus would have played. (…) At the end of the day, the two players who are the most recognizable in the world of chess at the moment are Magnus and myself. Furthermore, the idea of \u200b\u200ba world where I could be a world chess champion and Magnus is not the world chess champion, there is no way that Magnus would really be OK with that, at least, based on my understanding of the situation.”<\/p>\n

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