If other elite chess players ask scientists to do a case study that proves that Magnus Carlsen is a different breed and hence should not be allowed to play against humans, they can be totally forgiven!By winning the World Rapid and Blitz titles in Doha, Qatar — his fifth such double and 20th overall world title in a jaw-dropping career — the 35-yearold once again proved that his competitors, including what Garry Kasparov termed “Vishy Anand’s children”, are kids in comparison.
“If I am not mathematically eliminated, then ruling me out is probably not a good idea,” Carlsen told a press conference streamed on the FIDE webcast, inviting laughs of approval.Calling his 2016 Doha silver in blitz and bronze in rapid “unfinished business” — and admitting that not winning the blitz title then still bugged him — Carlsen said, “It was not a straightforward decision at all to play here. But once I decided to play, I thought I should give my very best. I have probably over-performed a little bit. Winning both (titles together) should not be a norm. But sometimes, the numbers don’t lie.”He also talked about his struggles in the blitz meet that forced him to score 4.5 in the last five rounds to qualify for the semis.“I was not doing many things right till the 14th round. My pace was too slow and I could not keep my cool in time trouble, which is a pretty bad combination when you are playing slowly.“But once we got to the knockouts, I thought I should really try and enjoy this. I did not necessarily expect to be there. It was a tough event but I am super happy because, at some point, I defied the odds.”When someone suggested his waning powers in reference to his struggles, Carlsen said, “I don’t think I am getting worse compared to my opponents!”He also boasted about his quality: “When I am on my game, I am usually very good in any format that you put in front of me.”Carlsen displayed his human side to fellow players and critics, his nerves on display as he stretched equal endgames into defeats in critical games of both tournaments — banging the table, spilling pieces and even pushing the cameraman’s equipment.But he was good enough to give his followers another reason to chant his name.When you dominate a fast-evolving cerebral sport in this fashion for 15 years — and uplift it with online initiatives during the Covid pandemic — some behavioural concessions are well-earned.Another eccentric player, Alireza Firouzja, said recently that he respects Carlsen. “Magnus says whatever he believes in and does whatever he believes in,” he had said in Mumbai.Carlsen explained: “I’m playing for the first place when I am playing here. A lot of players, a majority of the top boards, want a good prize and maybe a medal and maybe a win. For them, getting one of the top prizes is the most important thing. But for me, it’s different. That’s certainly a huge psychological advantage that I have and that’s one of the reasons why I sometimes am able to pull away at the end when others are sort of trying to consolidate.”World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura did not approve of Nodirbek Abdusattorov’s approach in the final.On his streaming platform, Nakamura said, “Though at some level, it’s good to treat Carlsen like any other player, in certain situations — especially endgames — you have to be mindful about whom you are playing. It’s better to simplify the position rather than getting into positional battles with Magnus.”The player knows how to cement his position as one of the absolute greats, even as the usual suspects with younger, sharper minds and AI backing come along.
