Carlsen on the World Championship: “I can live without it!”

Magnus Carlsen starts his 5th World Chess Championship match on Friday when he has the black pieces against Ian Nepomniachtchi in Dubai. In some interviews for major international publications on the eve of the match he confessed he was “less hungry” this time round and could live without the ordeal of the matches. He also talked about the threat of Alireza Firouzja (“his talent is immense”) and how the motivation to remain number one would remain with or without the title.

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