CHESS
Magnus Carlsen wins rapid chess world title
Norwegian chess superstar Magnus Carlsen has been crowned the world champion in rapid chess once again, after a thrilling three day defence of last year’s title in Berlin.
Published: 13 October 2015 09:35 CEST
Magnus Carlsen at a football match between Vålerenga and Real Madrid in August. Photo: Vegard Wivestad Grøtt / NTB scanpix
“I dare to take some more chances than they do. I’m just a little more brutal,” the 24-year-old told NRK after his final match with Azerbaijani grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.
He said that although he had powered through all fifteen matched in the tournament without losing a single game, almost none of the matches had been an easy ride.
“It is important not to let the results affect you too much and you shouldn’t be afraid of draws when you play in a tournament of 15 rounds,” he said. “There were many games which could have gone either way for me, but I always had a little more time and a little bit of control of position.”
The result sees Carlsen bouncing back from his loss of form at the Norway Chess championships in Stavanger in June, when he lost four matches, coming seventh out of the ten players.
Carlsen said his chess game had changes since he was younger, when he was more competitive and hated to lose.
“I’m becoming a fox, an experienced player. I win most of the games that could tilt either way.”
He said he was looking forward to the Blitz chess championships on Tuesday.
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