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Magnus Carlsen and the renaissance of chess Magnus Carlsen and the renaissance of chess
(6 months later)
From this week, until early April, eight of the world's leading chess grandmasters will be battling in the Candidates' Tournament in London, to determine a challenger to the chess crown of the Indian world champion, Viswanathan Anand. Known as the Tiger of Madras, Anand has held the championship for the past six years, defending his status three times against well-established and dangerous opponents.From this week, until early April, eight of the world's leading chess grandmasters will be battling in the Candidates' Tournament in London, to determine a challenger to the chess crown of the Indian world champion, Viswanathan Anand. Known as the Tiger of Madras, Anand has held the championship for the past six years, defending his status three times against well-established and dangerous opponents.
This competition to determine Anand's challenger is the strongest chess tournament ever held in the capital. And fronting the pack of ambitious hopefuls, yearning to seize their share of the record €500,000 prize fund and go on to dethrone the sitting champion, is the fresh, menacing force of Norway's Magnus Carlsen. At just 22 years of age, this chess superstar has already been the public face of teen fashion house G-Star RAW and is the recipient of hundreds of thousands of pounds per year in sponsorship deals. Such is Carlsen's allure, both on and off the chessboard, that many people are hoping he could rekindle an interest in the game that has been lacking since the glory days of Fischer-Spassky, and Karpov-Kasparov. Indeed, Carlsen has already been invited to take the role of a chess-playing alien from the future in the forthcoming new edition of the Star Trek movie franchise – an offer he turned down.This competition to determine Anand's challenger is the strongest chess tournament ever held in the capital. And fronting the pack of ambitious hopefuls, yearning to seize their share of the record €500,000 prize fund and go on to dethrone the sitting champion, is the fresh, menacing force of Norway's Magnus Carlsen. At just 22 years of age, this chess superstar has already been the public face of teen fashion house G-Star RAW and is the recipient of hundreds of thousands of pounds per year in sponsorship deals. Such is Carlsen's allure, both on and off the chessboard, that many people are hoping he could rekindle an interest in the game that has been lacking since the glory days of Fischer-Spassky, and Karpov-Kasparov. Indeed, Carlsen has already been invited to take the role of a chess-playing alien from the future in the forthcoming new edition of the Star Trek movie franchise – an offer he turned down.
Defending champion Anand is becoming somewhat long in the tooth and has won only one major tournament since his successful title defence in Moscow a year ago. Carlsen, in contrast, has soared to the highest chess rating of all time, obliterating Kasparov's previous record, while regularly picking off top honours in elite contests. His chess style is harmonious, uniquely versatile and backed up by a fierce will to win.Defending champion Anand is becoming somewhat long in the tooth and has won only one major tournament since his successful title defence in Moscow a year ago. Carlsen, in contrast, has soared to the highest chess rating of all time, obliterating Kasparov's previous record, while regularly picking off top honours in elite contests. His chess style is harmonious, uniquely versatile and backed up by a fierce will to win.
Under new rules, older contestants are finding it increasingly onerous to survive long games, which now demand a gladiatorial fight to a finish. Before the advent of computers it was still possible to stop play and adjourn the game after five hours play. No longer.Under new rules, older contestants are finding it increasingly onerous to survive long games, which now demand a gladiatorial fight to a finish. Before the advent of computers it was still possible to stop play and adjourn the game after five hours play. No longer.
Middle-aged grandmasters find this unremitting mental warfare hard to stomach – Anand is twice Carlsen's age. The chess world is in a phase of renewal, and most experts believe the time has come for change at the top.Middle-aged grandmasters find this unremitting mental warfare hard to stomach – Anand is twice Carlsen's age. The chess world is in a phase of renewal, and most experts believe the time has come for change at the top.
Will Carlsen succeed in London? He remains the favourite but there is no doubt, after the early rounds, that the London contest will provide a nail-biting race.Will Carlsen succeed in London? He remains the favourite but there is no doubt, after the early rounds, that the London contest will provide a nail-biting race.
The game, it seems, could be on the verge of to reliving the days when Fischer challenged Spassky in a metaphorical paradigm of the cold war, or when the embodiment of glasnost and perestroika, Garry Kasparov, took on Anatoly Karpov, the golden boy of the Kremlin establishment, in a titanic series of battles.The game, it seems, could be on the verge of to reliving the days when Fischer challenged Spassky in a metaphorical paradigm of the cold war, or when the embodiment of glasnost and perestroika, Garry Kasparov, took on Anatoly Karpov, the golden boy of the Kremlin establishment, in a titanic series of battles.
Even with this recent relative downturn, though, recent research by YouGov pointed to 600 million people who regularly play chess. The game is now being taken up by governments around the world as an academic subject on the school curriculum, with Israel and Armenia being joined this month by Hungary. Medical research indicates that playing chess can help fend off Alzheimer's disease.Even with this recent relative downturn, though, recent research by YouGov pointed to 600 million people who regularly play chess. The game is now being taken up by governments around the world as an academic subject on the school curriculum, with Israel and Armenia being joined this month by Hungary. Medical research indicates that playing chess can help fend off Alzheimer's disease.
So, with chess proving to be beneficial both for students and the elderly, with fresh backers such as Azerbaijan's State Oil Corporation, and with the alluring prospect of a young new champion who will significantly contribute to revitalising and promoting the sport worldwide, the future seems bright for an ancient game that entertained the Caliphs of 9th century Baghdad and continues to do so for fans of all ages.So, with chess proving to be beneficial both for students and the elderly, with fresh backers such as Azerbaijan's State Oil Corporation, and with the alluring prospect of a young new champion who will significantly contribute to revitalising and promoting the sport worldwide, the future seems bright for an ancient game that entertained the Caliphs of 9th century Baghdad and continues to do so for fans of all ages.
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