For Magnus Carlsen (Tönsberg, Norway, 1990), indisputable number one Since 2011, it is so important to have fun while competing that to do so you are willing to risk and come close to defeat. Taking into account that losing in chess usually hurts even more than in any other sport, it is very rare for a world champion to play with the confidence of the Norwegian in the game in this video, even if it were in blitz mode (about five minutes per side for the entire game).
Carlsen takes a very innovative, if not eccentric, path with his fourth move (g4). His fearsome rival, the Frenchman MaximeVachier-Lagrave, rejects the most logical answer (d5) probably because he believes that the Scandinavian brings everything very prepared from home. Carlsen continues to risk as much as possible, but manages to drive a wedge into the enemy rearguard that splits the opponent’s position in two. And to achieve a clearly winning position he performs a sibylline maneuver. So much so that the viewer will probably think that it is another eccentricity. But it’s genius.
