Chess: The rapid ascent of Magnus Carlsen
July 6, 2008
Bill Cornwall
Carlsen is for real: Erasing all doubts, 17 ½-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway has established himself as the next potential Bobby Fischer.
In the past few years, the teen has soared into the supergrandmaster category, but just recently he stunned everyone when he won a major event in the Ukraine. He not only bested 11 of the world’s top players, he did so without losing a game. He cinched first prize with one round left.
A Web site that updates ratings (chess.liverating.org) now lists Carlsen as No. 2 in the world with a 2,791 rating. World champion Vishwanathan Anand of India is only eight points ahead at 2,798. Former champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia follows with 2,789.
In this column’s game, Carlsen sacrifices a rook for bishop to establish a winning position.
Traveling with a king: In our chess infancies, most of us learned through painful experience to keep our kings out of the lines of fire. Only the most stubborn among us fail to follow the basic strategic opening dictate: Castle early! So ingrained in us is that principle that we have a natural reluctance to emerge with our kings when we should.
Here is the full article.
Oh yes, he’s the real deal! Go Magnus go!
He’s likely the new Fischer, including quitting the scene early.