It is hard to find a person who has not heard of Magnus Carlsen, one of the legendary figures of modern chess, a master of intellect and strategic thinking. He was born on November 30, 1990, in Tonsberg, Norway. Although Carlsen was introduced to chess pieces at the age of five, his serious approach to the game began at the age of eight.
Even in his youth, coaches were amazed by Magnus's extraordinary mathematical ability, exceptionally strong memory, and creative thinking. One of his first coaches was the famous grandmaster Simen Agdestein from Norway.
In 2004, when Carlsen turned 13, he earned the title of international grandmaster in chess, joining the ranks of the youngest grandmasters of that time and attracting the attention of the entire chess world.
Magnus Carlsen is the only chess player in history to demonstrate equal dominance in three formats and has been a world champion a record number of times. He has achieved the title of world champion five times in each of classical, rapid, and blitz chess, totaling 15 times overall.
In 2023, Carlsen made an unexpected decision to voluntarily relinquish his title of world champion in classical chess. However, this did not mean the end of his career. Magnus continues to successfully pursue his victorious path in other formats.
"Against the World: Carlsen": A historic duel with 143,000 chess players!
In the spring of 2025, Magnus organized the largest online duel in chess history. He engaged in an online battle with over 143,000 chess enthusiasts from around the world as part of the "Magnus Carlsen vs The World" project. During the game, participants from around the globe voted to choose the best move before each turn, and Carlsen played against the moves that received the most votes. This historic game, consisting of 46 moves, ended in a draw due to threefold repetition of positions and was recorded as a significant event in chess history.
"Freestyle Chess" – a new path of innovation and victories
Magnus approaches traditional chess formats with great interest, stepping out of conventional molds into modern and innovative formats. He actively participates in the "Freestyle Chess" format and is well-known as its prominent promoter among chess fans. In the "Freestyle Grand Slam" tournament held in Paris in 2025, he defeated the famous American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, once again showcasing his universal talent and adaptability.
Carlsen's playing style stands out in the chess world for its uniqueness. His style is very precise and methodical, based on extracting significant results from small mistakes. By consistently increasing positional advantage and applying pressure on his opponent, Carlsen ultimately secures victory, earning him the nickname "The Mozart of Chess."
To this day, Magnus Carlsen has become not just a strong player in chess but a person who has elevated the entire chess culture to a new level. With his innovative approaches and victorious paths, he remains a great source of inspiration for future generations of chess players.
The Zamin.uz editorial team closely follows the news about this legend in the chess world. What do you think Magnus Carlsen might change in chess next? What could his next step be?
