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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
‘Rock and roll': The Carlsen impact in Norway
Stavanger, Norway: Almost everyone who visits the commercial bank in Stavanger to cash in on some chess has a Carlsen story to tell. We'll stick to a couple. In a public park this week, Norway Chess hosted an open school chess tournament. Every kid carried hopes and a question: 'Will Magnus be here?' At the turn of last year as the World Blitz Championship was broadcast from New York during the peak holiday season of family time and fireworks, around one million Norwegians tuned in via national broadcast NRK. That's 20% of the country's population. Hundreds of children, thousands of television viewers, one common thread: Magnus Carlsen. 'Magnus is the most famous person in Norway, perhaps in our history,' Kjell Madland, founder of Norway Chess, said. Norway's economic story traces back to the oil boom of the 1960s, a chapter brought to life in a local museum documentary exploring its benefits and costs. But just as oil sells, so does Carlsen. He has helped transform chess from niche and nerdy to cool and mainstream among young Norwegians. He's brought sponsors, primetime television slots, and national pride — and has given every Norwegian the chance to call a chess icon their own. Carlsen's impact goes far beyond the 64 squares. It captures the imagination of nearly 5.5 million people in a nation traditionally defined by winter sports. 'Even though Norway is a country that does well economically and athletically, having a personality like Magnus brings a special pride to Norwegians,' said Sverre Krogh Sundbø, a TV2 sports presenter and former poker player who attended Carlsen's wedding in January. Like many in Norway, Sundbø has closely followed Carlsen's journey—from a 13-year-old Grandmaster to a 22-year-old world champion, to a five-time titleholder who now, at 34, makes just one annual classical chess appearance at home. India, Sundbø believes, perhaps could best relate to what Carlsen means to Norway—both in chess and beyond. 'You're a country where cricket is number one, two, three, four, and five. We've had football and skiing hold that status here. Then Vishy (Viswanathan) Anand comes along and reaches that kind of level in chess. That's Magnus for us,' Sundbø said. And it's been him for over a decade. Aryan Tari, 25, Norwegian GM and 2017 world junior champion, was in middle school when Carlsen won his first world title in 2013—the same year chess was televised in Norway for the first time. 'Kids started playing chess in classrooms,' Tari said. 'It gave me so much joy to see my sport suddenly become popular. And it's only grown bigger since.' In the Stavanger region alone, around 5,000 kids take part in chess tournaments each year, said Lasse Ostebo Lovik, an IM, chess coach and president of the Norwegian Chess Federation and Stavanger Youth Chess Club. In 2015, the federation launched SkoleSjakken, a program aimed at teaching chess in schools. 'There's been a massive boost in interest,' Løvik said. 'I started playing chess before Magnus became who he is. Back then it was niche and geeky. Now it's mainstream and cool.' That 'mainstream and cool' label has stuck with chess in Norway—and with Carlsen. His no-filter, unabashed, and sometimes perplexing persona adds a distinct flavour to the sport. It makes the enigmatic genius stand out among Norway's other world-class modern athletes: Erling Haaland (football), Karsten Warholm (track), Casper Ruud (tennis), and Viktor Hovland (golf). 'Magnus is rock and roll. And we like someone who's a little bit rock and roll,' said Sundbø. 'We need entertainment—and Magnus knows that. You can't emerge on the global stage without a big personality. He's engaging. He's crazy. A lot of people think it's arrogance—but it's not.' Is he arrogant, though? 'Cocky young man,' Henrik Carlsen, Magnus's father, retorts with a smile. It's not the first time Carlsen Sr. has joked about this. 'I used to say that in our family, arrogant isn't a bad word,' Henrik said. 'I mean, if you've earned it, it's okay. And Magnus has earned it. If he comes across as slightly arrogant, it's just his confidence. He's not putting on a show.' Call it what you may, Carlsen's popularity has propelled him to a polarizing figure. 'There are people who absolutely love him—and there are people who don't,' said a middle-aged female volunteer at Norway Chess. 'Either way, everyone in Norway knows Carlsen.' One family flew from Canada to Norway certainly did —and found themselves within arm's reach of the man himself in Stavanger. A photo request was met with a smile and a click, as is the case for many fans who gather around Carlsen after games That's part of why Carlsen still matters. 'Norway Chess couldn't happen without him. The interest just wouldn't be there,' said Madland. 'We needed sponsors, we wanted chess on TV.' Carlsen remains second to none in that regard—even as he has step back from classical chess, limits his appearances, and increasingly prioritizes life beyond the board, especially now as a newlywed and soon-to-be father. 'The most amazing thing Magnus has done is choosing a life. That takes guts,' said Sundbø. 'For the greatest phenomenon ever in chess, it's hard for outsiders to understand that the game may not be the most important thing in his life anymore.' But for Norway, Carlsen still is. Within and beyond the 64 squares. 'Norway producing another Magnus,' said Tari, 'would be like winning the lottery a thousand times in a row.'
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
FIDE chief Arkady Dvorkovich on Magnus Carlsen's fist thump: ‘It was extreme emotion… but emotions make any sport more exciting'
When a frustrated Magnus Carlsen slammed his fist on the table after a blunder against world champion Gukesh Dommaraju during a match at Norway Chess, the sound was heard across the world. While many in the chess fraternity were a little taken aback by that display of emotion, that moment has prompted plenty of people who would otherwise not follow the sport to track the drama keenly. Now FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich has said that what Carlsen did was 'a bit unusual' but 'not disrespectful'. 'I saw a video that showed that Gukesh had also done the same (once). The reaction (from Carlsen) was a bit unusual, yes. It was like extreme emotion. But, people like emotions. Emotions make sport more exciting sometimes,' Dvorkovich told Indian media in Stavanger on Wednesday. OH MY GOD 😳🤯😲 — Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 1, 2025 'Of course, everyone should keep himself respectful. I would not call what Magnus did disrespectful. It was emotional as he was really disappointed. Gukesh fought back in a very tough game. But at the end, Magnus appreciated that Gukesh was really fighting for that (win).' Dvorkovich-led FIDE and Carlsen have recently clashed a few times, especially when the world no.1 was threatened with a forfeiture for wearing jeans at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship. In response, Carlsen quit the tournament and butted antlers with the top brass of chess' world governing body. He was later coaxed back to play the World Blitz Championship, the title which he subsequently opted to share with Ian Nepomniachtchi. FIDE then objected to the Freestyle Grand Slam chess tour events, organised by people backed by the Norwegian. In Stavanger, when Dvorkovich was asked whether he thought Carlsen banging his fist on the table would draw in newer audiences to the sport, he said: 'You can always say that in any sport, any scandal creates more excitement. And this was not a big scandal, happily, it was just a short moment.' 'Major channels start following those things, like it was once with the (Hans Niemann) cheating scandal, Jeansgate or whatever. Magnus is a top player, so when he is involved in something like that, of course everyone pays attention. But I have great respect for Magnus and I would not blame him for those things.' Dvorkovich felt that in cases where a player acts out physically during a game, an arbiter should give a soft warning. But 'if there are no complaints (from the other player), it doesn't go anywhere.' Right after the fist thump incident, Carlsen had spoken out about how this year's Norway Chess could be the last classical event he plays. When asked about Carlsen quitting classical chess, Dvorkovich said: 'That would be unfortunate, but I hope that he'll come back to some classical events or some mixed events. Magnus is the best player, but not the only strong player in the world. He's in his mid-thirties already, so it's good that he's doing other things as well.' Amit Kamath is Assistant Editor at The Indian Express and is based in Mumbai. ... Read More
New York Times
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Magnus Carlsen's controversial jeans sell for $36,100 at auction
The jeans chess player Magnus Carlsen wore when the world No 1 withdrew from a tournament over its dress code have been sold in an eBay auction for $36,100 with proceeds going to charity. Carlsen, and the Coreliani jeans he was wearing, made headlines at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in 2024 in December when the five-time world champion initially quit the New York tournament after officials had deemed he had broken its rules on clothing. Advertisement The Norwegian was fined $200 and asked to change. When he refused to do so, he was subsequently not paired for the ninth round. Last month, Carlsen posted on X: 'The forbidden jeans — can now be yours. I am auctioning my jeans. A sentence I never thought I would write. But here we are.' OOTD — Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) December 28, 2024 The Norwegian said at the time he had worn the jeans for a meeting and 'didn't even think' about wearing different trousers for the tournament. He said he had offered to change for the following day but that was not accepted. A few days later, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced Carlsen would return for the World Blitz Championship, with president Arkady Dvorkovich confirming that while the official dress code would remain in place it would be relaxed to accommodate 'elegant minor deviations'. After 10 days on eBay, the jeans, which retail at a few hundred dollars, were sold with proceeds going to youth mentoring charity, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA). 'Chess has long been a favorite activity for Bigs and Littles in our program. It creates opportunities for mentorship, critical thinking, and lifelong connections,' Artis Stevens, CEO of BBBSA, said, as reported by 'With the proceeds from this auction, Big Brothers Big Sisters will expand its efforts by organizing chess clinics, community events, and more, equipping youth with essential skills to navigate life's challenges.' Carlsen is considered one of the finest chess players in history and in addition to his five world chess championships is also a five-time world rapid champion and an eight-time world blitz champion.
