Carlsen's Chess Legacy: Dutch GM Anish Giri Says Fans Must Move On

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The 2026 Candidates Tournament has confirmed its participants, with the winner set to challenge India's D Gukesh for the World Championship title. However, Magnus Carlsen, a five-time World Champion, will not be participating for the second consecutive edition. In an interview, Dutch GM Anish Giri expressed his thoughts on Carlsen's absence, stating that fans will eventually move on from the Norwegian chess legend. Giri, set to compete in the Candidates tournament, noted that in sports, fans often adapt to new talent and that chess is no exception. He praised Carlsen's decision to focus on faster-paced chess, which is well-paid and enjoyable. However, Giri also acknowledged that dominating Classical chess can lead to a loss of motivation, a factor that may have contributed to Carlsen's decision to step back. Carlsen's last title was in 2013, and he has not defended his championship since 2022. Ding Liren became the World Champion in 2022, and Gukesh claimed the title in 2023, becoming the youngest-ever FIDE World Champion in history. Giri believes that Carlsen's record reign as World No. 1 is unlikely to be broken, and that fans should accept his decision to focus on other aspects of chess. 'He's a great player, but he's chosen not to play the World Championship cycle for so long that he'll probably never be back,' Giri said. 'It's time for fans to move on and appreciate the new talent emerging in the chess world.'