October 25th 2024.
It's no secret that Magnus Carlsen has reached a level of fame that few chess players ever achieve. From becoming a grand master at the young age of 13, to refusing to play against an American player accused of cheating, and even delving into the world of online chess gaming, Carlsen has become a household name in his home country of Norway and beyond.
The thing that sets Carlsen apart from his peers is his celebrity status. Only a handful of chess legends, like Garry Kasparov and Bobby Fischer, can match his level of name recognition. Some may argue that Carlsen is even more dominant on the chess board than these greats. In fact, just last month, he was named the greatest chess player of all time by the International Chess Federation.
But now, at the age of 33, Carlsen's focus has shifted from racking up professional titles to using his fame to help elevate the game of chess. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, he shared, "I am in a different stage in my career. I am not as ambitious when it comes to professional chess. I still want to play, but I don't necessarily have that hunger. I play for the love of the game."
That love and passion for chess has now led Carlsen to launch his own application, Take Take Take, which aims to make the game more accessible to a wider audience. With this app, users can follow live games and players, while Carlsen himself provides recaps and analysis. It's a fresh and more laid-back take on the game, something that Carlsen refers to as a "chiller vibe".
In November, the app will also feature coverage of the World Chess Championship tournament between China's Ding Liren and India's Gukesh Dommaraju. And while Carlsen won't be competing in this tournament, as he voluntarily gave up his title in 2023, he is still using his expertise to provide valuable insights for fans.
This isn't Carlsen's first foray into the world of chess apps. In 2014, he started Play Magnus, an app that allows users to play against a chess engine modeled after his own gameplay. The success of this app led to a suite of other applications and its eventual sale for $80 million to Chess.com, the world's largest chess website.
But with Take Take Take, Carlsen and his company, Fantasy Chess, are hoping to reach an even wider audience by offering a unique streaming experience and game analysis. And with the rise of social media and the popularity of shows like The Queen's Gambit, chess is experiencing a surge in popularity that can only be further fueled by Carlsen's involvement.
However, with the accessibility of chess engines, cheating has also become easier. But Carlsen believes that this technology has also had a positive impact on the game, as it has allowed players to deepen their preparation and improve their skills. He notes that the games being played today are of higher quality, thanks to the help of artificial intelligence.
At the age of 33, Carlsen admits that his mind may not work as quickly as it did when he was a young prodigy, but he still has the energy, computing power, and experience to remain at the top of his game. And he plans to do just that for many years to come.
It's clear that Carlsen's success on the chess board has played a significant role in the game's rising popularity. But he's not the only one contributing to this trend. Other chess influencers, like world No. 2, Hikaru Nakamura, are also using social media to bring the game to a wider audience.
The game of chess has come a long way since its beginnings, and with Carlsen's involvement, it's clear that it will continue to evolve and attract new fans. As we eagerly await the release of Take Take Take, we can only imagine the impact it will have on the game of chess and its growing community.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
