Magnus Carlsen not to defend World Chess Championship title in 2023

Magnus Carlsen has confirmed that he will not defend his world chess championship title against Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi.

“I simply feel that I don’t have a lot to gain…I’ve spoken to my team, FIDE, and Ian. I don’t have any inclination to play & I will simply not play the match,” he said on the first episode of The Magnus Effect podcast.

“I am not motivated to play another match. I simply feel that I don’t have a lot to gain, I don’t particularly like it, and although I’m sure a match would be interesting for historical reasons and all of that, I don’t have any inclination to play and I will simply not play the match,” he was quoted as saying on chess24.com.

31-year-old Carlsen claimed his fifth world chess crown in Dubai in December 2021 with a crushing 7.5-3.5 victory against Nepomniachtchi. Thereafter he stated he is ‘unlikely’ to defend his world title

Meanwhile, Nepomniachtchi won the Candidates Tournament in Madrid and earned the right to play for the world title.