Topline
Magnus Carlsen now holds all three world chess championship titles after winning both the World Rapid and World Blitz titles in Almaty, Kazakhstan, this week, marking the third time Carlsen has held all three world chess titles.
Magnus Carlsen holds the triple crown in chess for a third time.
Key Facts
Carlsen, 32, finished ahead of grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura Friday to win the World Blitz Championship, complementing his winning the World Rapid Championship Wednesday in securing the three major chess world titles.
Carlsen claimed the World Classical Championship in November 2021, defeating grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi—including one win in a 136-move game, the longest ever played in world championship history.
After winning both the rapid and blitz titles, Carlsen is still the lone player to have ever won both in the same year, according to the International Chess Federation.
Carlsen joked on Twitter that he was “gonna need more hands soon” after counting his now 15 world titles on his fingers.
Crucial Quote
“To some extent, the Blitz title is very important because it’s [won in a tournament with] more rounds,” Carlsen said in a release Friday, suggesting his most recent title was his most desired, adding “as far as the classical championship [goes] I won it, but it wasn’t dear enough to hold on to.”
Key Background
Carlsen, who became the youngest person to be ranked number one in the world in 2010, continues to add to his legacy as one of the best chess players of all time. His 2882 rating in 2014 remains the highest in chess history and currently sits at 2859 in classic, 2839 in rapid and 2852 in blitz, according to the International Chess Federation. Despite his recent success, Carlsen has noted he will not defend his World Classical title in 2023, according to Chess.com, citing less enjoyment during tournament matches.
Tangent
Lawyers representing Carlsen and Chess.com asked a federal judge earlier this month to toss a $100 million lawsuit filed by grandmaster Hans Niemann, whom Carlsen accused of cheating in tournament matches earlier this year. Carlsen claimed Niemann “wasn’t tense or even fully concentrating on the game” during a tournament in St. Louis, adding Niemann had made suspicious moves.
Further Reading
Chess’ $100 Million Showdown: Carlsen Moves To Dismiss Niemann Lawsuit Over Cheating Allegations (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2022/12/31/magnus-carlsen-wins-chess-triple-crown-for-a-third-time—after-dramatic-year-and-niemann-cheating-scandal/