is Magnus Carlsen really quitting chess?

He doesn't. He is playing a lot.

Because he finds it tiresome and not fun to prepare and play the World Championship. It is months of work. And he think quicker time controls are more fun OR chess960 with classical timecontrol. Basically he don't want to fight lines wich his opponent has spent months with a superengine to prepare and draw him. He want to have fun playing chess.

Magnus gave an interview a couple of months ago, stating that probably he will never play another classical game. He will play some rapid and blitz, and that's it.

In chess history, there were times when the world champion was the "undisputed best player", and there were times when it wasn't. The latter is much more common then you'd think.

In the 1950s, there was no "undisputed best player". In most of the 60s, it was Bobby Fischer, but he wasn't WC. In 1972-75, he was WC, but he didn't play a single game. In the rest of the 70's, Karpov was the best player and the WC, but not undisputed - no matter that he won all tournaments, people still always compared him unfavorably to Fischer.

Is Stern2311 a Magnus Carlsen alter ego? Love the pic. Reminds me of his stare at times.

This person appears on the scene recently (March 14th). No title. Plays blitz only. Started at 1800. Now at 3078. #24 on the blitz leader board. 104 friends. Really outrageous results in a very very short time.

If it is not him, then this guy has fooled Chess.com into thinking he is not cheating. An untitled person reaching the rarefied air of a Grandmaster is unthinkable.

Magnus loves keeping others guessing.

I always find it odd seeing this being raised in Chess.

It's the World Championship not the ratings. It seems to be only with Chess that we think the two should be the same.

For example just look at other sports which have World Championships, e.g. football. It's in no way a given that the top ranked side will win, and if they don't, no one would look down on the World Champions as if they were undeserving or something.

A World Championship is a competition in its own right unrelated to ranking.

Magnus won't leave Professional Chess. He doesn't have other career choice.

He don't need to work anymore.

You answered your own question. I think Magnus owes Hans a sincere apology, because he wasn't vibing or cheating in that game. In my opinion.

Carlsen is too young to retire. I don't think he wants to coach, write books or be a full time chess blogger.

Why not leave when you are the best at something? Why wait until many begin to beat you? Then people could argue maybe he wasn't the greatest chess player in the world?

I thought he had when he and chess.com.settled with Hans. I'm sure he made some statement admitting there wasn't any evidence Niemann had cheated and would play him again.

No idea. But he's certainly back playing on here and has played Magnus since.

Yes, and we should all quit. I am playing 1100's in bullet lately, more than 30 years of experience counts for nothing on this site.

You are obviously in the wrong topic.