World number one Magnus Carlsen has shared insights into what sets him apart from other elite chess players. In a recent interview, the five-time world champion described himself as slightly better in multiple aspects of the game. He attributed his longevity at the top to a combination of skills and psychological advantages.
Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian grandmaster who has dominated chess for over two decades, recently discussed the factors that distinguish him from other top-100 players. In an interview on the podcast Take Take Take, Carlsen emphasized that no single strength defines his superiority. Instead, he is "a little bit better at everything," including evaluation and calculation of positions.
"Very hard to say. Against most people, around top-100, I am a little bit better at everything," Carlsen said. "I evaluate a little bit better, I calculate a little bit better. Some people, they will get a little bit intimidated playing against me, so they might not play as aggressively as they should and I can use that to my advantage sometimes."
He noted that this overall edge is "net positive," though not without drawbacks, as opponents may take fewer risks. Carlsen has held the FIDE number one ranking since 2011 and boasts the highest peak rating of 2882. A five-time classical world champion, he chose not to defend his title in 2023 and recently won his 21st world title in the inaugural FIDE Freestyle World Championship.
His career highlights include defeating Anatoly Karpov at age 13 in 2004 and beating Viswanathan Anand in two world championship matches. Even at 35, Carlsen remains ahead of competitors like reigning world champion D Gukesh. Looking ahead, he plans to compete in Norway Chess in June and defend his Esports World Cup title in August. He will also feature in the upcoming Netflix documentary Untold: Chess Mates, which examines the 2022 cheating scandal's aftermath.
