'My Wife's Way More Attracted To Me Now...', Jests Magnus Carlsen After Breaching 2900 Milestone
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The 34-year-old became the first player to cross the milestone in the recently released freestyle chess rankings compiled by the Freestyle Chess Organisation.
Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen jested that his wife Ella Victoria finds him more attractive after he breached the elusive 2900 rating in freestyle chess.
The 34-year-old became the first player to cross the milestone in the recently released freestyle chess rankings compiled by the Freestyle Chess Organisation.
'A new standard has been set," Carlsen said after the newly introduced rating system for the freestyle chess, also known as Fischer Chess or Chess960.
'My wife is way more attracted to me now that I've achieved 2900," the five-time World Champion joked.
The couple tied the knot earlier in the year, and Victoria is often pictured accompanying her husband to his events.
Carlsen sits atop the table with a rating of 2909, followed by American GM Hikaru Nakamura at 2818. Fabiano Caruana stands third with 2804 while Indian GM Praggnanandhaa fourth with 2773.
Ian Nepomniachtchi comes in fifth followed by Vincent Keymer and Alireza Firouzja, as India Arjun Erigaisi is positioned 8th with 2758. Vidit Gujarati is place 16th in the table with compatriot Aravindh Chithambaram stands 22nd on the liust with 2707, while reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju was placed 26th in the table with a rating of 2701.
Carlsen clinched the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam title in Paris earlier in the year, and doubled down on his run with a historic win at Grenke Freestyle Chess Open 2025 as the Norwegian claimed 9 win out of as many matches, six of whom were Grandmasters.
Carlsen has teased the idea of breaching the elusive rating earlier stating, 'The goal of breaking 2900 has mostly been about motivating myself to be in top shape when I play classical chess."
'I've put that goal on hold a bit, so instead I'll bring it back up if I get closer," the 34-year-old had said.
First Published:
June 20, 2025, 19:17 IST
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