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Magnus Carlsen

Magnus Carlsen Quotes

Chess Player

Magnus Carlsen is a Norwegian chess player widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time. Born on November 30, 1990, Carlsen has shown exceptional chess talent from a young age. He became an International Master in 2004 and won the World Youth Championship in 2005. Carlsen claimed his first World Championship title in 2009 and has held the title ever since. Known for his innovative style and exceptional skill, he has had a profound impact on the development of chess. Carlsen is also actively involved in promoting chess globally, contributing to the sport's international recognition.

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Famous Magnus Carlsen Quotes

“I don't think there is a thing like overconfidence in chess. It's always better to be too confident than too reluctant.”

Thinking Chess Reluctant Overconfidence

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I don't consider myself a particularly young chess player. I have been playing in the best tournaments in the world since I was 16 years old. In other sports, if you have been playing for seven years, you are not a young prodigy any more. You're one of the pros.”

Ifs World Years Has Beens Young Sports Player Seven Chess Seven Years Tournaments Chess Players Prodigies

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I think with chess as with everything, marketing is the main issue.”

Thinking Issues Marketing Chess

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“In my experience, when I went to school, and especially in after-school, and during breaks, a lot of people wanted to sit down and play chess up till a certain age when it was not supposed to be cool anymore and people wanted to do other things.”

People Play Age Wanted School Certain Break Down And Chess Supposed To Be Being Cool After School

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Kids love games and chess is a game where you have to sit down and concentrate and it just helps in every way.”

Way Helping Kids Games Down And Chess Kids Love The Love Of The Game

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Some people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it's OK to lose. I don't. You have to be merciless.”

People Ifs Thinking Play Beautiful Games Loses Powerful Chess Opponents

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Self-confidence is very important. If you don't think you can win, you will take cowardly decisions in the crucial moments, out of sheer respect for your opponent. You see the opportunity but also greater limitations than you should. I have always believed in what I do on the chessboard, even when I had no objective reason to. It is better to overestimate your prospects than underestimate them.”

“My father, a fine chess player himself, has been a massive influence throughout my life.”

Has Beens Father Player Influence Fine Chess Massive Chess Players

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I spend hours playing chess because I find it so much fun. The day it stops being fun is the day I give up.”

Giving Fun Hours Giving Up Chess Playing Chess

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Of course, analysis can sometimes give more accurate results than intuition but usually it’s just a lot of work. I normally do what my intuition tells me to do. Most of the time spent thinking is just to double-check.”

Thinking Giving Sometimes Courses Results Intuition Chess Checks Analysis Accurate Time Spent

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I get more upset at losing at other things than chess. I always get upset when I lose at Monopoly.”

Loses Losing Chess Upset Monopoly

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I learnt an enormous amount, but there came a point where I found there was too much stress. It was no fun any more. Outside of the chessboard I avoid conflict, so I thought this wasn't worth it.”

Found Fun Too Much Amount Conflict Stress Coaches Chess Enormous Worth It

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I've never been much of a computer guy at least in terms of playing with computers. Actually until I was about 11 I didn't use a computer for preparing for games at all. Now, obviously, the computer is an important tool for me preparing for my games. I analyze when I'm on the computer, either my games or my opponents. But mostly my own.”

Important Use Guy Games Term My Own Computer Tools Chess Opponents Preparing

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I played like a child!”

Children Humour Chess

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“The Nanjing games are homework by Garry Kasparov and me, [...] Today's game was provided by Garry.”

Today Games Chess Homework

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Contrary to many young Colleagues, I do believe that it makes sense to study the Classics.”

Believe Young Practice Study Contrary Chess Make Sense Colleagues

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I started by just sitting by the chessboard exploring things. I didn't even have books at first, and I just played by myself. I learnt a lot from that, and I feel that it is a big reason why I now have a good intuitive understanding of chess.”

Feels Firsts Book Reason Bigs Understanding Learning Sitting Chess Reason Why Exploring Intuitive

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I can’t count the times I have lagged seemingly hopelessly far behind, and nobody except myself thinks I can win. But I have pulled myself in from desperate [situations]. When you are behind there are two strategies - counter-attack or all men to the defences. I’m good at finding the right balance between those.”

Thinking Men I Can Two Winning Behinds Situation Balance Findings Strategy Chess Desperate Defence Counter Attack Desperate Situations

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“There wasn't any particular player I modeled my game after. I tried to learn from everyone and create my own style. I studied past players... Truth be told I never had a favorite player. It's just not my nature to go around idolizing people. I just go try to learn.”

People Trying Past Games My Own Player Style Particular Truth Is Chess Truth Be Told My Own Style

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Not winning a tournament is not an option for me, unless it's no longer theoretically possible - then of course winning becomes impossible. But up to that point, not winning is just not an option.”

Success Courses Winning Impossible Chess Tournaments

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Once you're a chess player, you spend a lot of time thinking about the game and you can't get it completely out of your head.”

Thinking Games Player Chess Chess Players

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“For me right now I think being the world number one is a bigger deal than being the world champion because I think it shows better who plays the best chess. That sounds self-serving but I think it's also right.”

Thinking World Self Play Shows Sound Deals Numbers Right Now Bigger Chess Champion Serving Championship Self Serving World Champions

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“All I expect are wins and to get pleasure from the game. And if someone thinks something about me, if someone's dissatisfied with something... that's not my headache. I hope someday I'll become World Champion - and I'll make all these people happy. But even if for some reason that doesn't happen it won't stop me getting pleasure from chess. I'm sure of that.”

People Ifs Thinking World Reason Happens Games Winning Pleasure Chess Champion Someday Championship Headache Dissatisfied World Champions

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.”

Persons Might Normal Very Good Chess Freak

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Chess only appeals to quite a small minority. It does not have the cachet of a mainstream popular sport.”

Doe Sports Chess Appeals Minorities Mainstream Popular Sports

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I honestly don't read that much. Obviously I read chess books - in terms of favorites, Kasparov's 'My Great Predecessors' is pretty good.”

Book Term Honestly Chess Predecessors

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“It's easy for me to get along with chess players. Even though we are all very different, we have chess in common.”

Different Easy Common Player Chess Chess Players

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Right now I'm really happy with how things are going with my chess career, so I'm not thinking of doing anything else.”

Thinking Careers Right Now Chess Really Happy

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“I was lucky enough to attend schools where they were understanding about when I needed to go abroad to play chess. Of course, socially it is important to go to school and interact with people your own age.”

People Important Enough Play Age School Courses Understanding Needed Lucky Chess

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“Maybe if I didn't have the talent in chess I'd find the talent in something else. The only thing I know is that I have talent in chess, and I'm satisfied with that.”

Ifs Knows Talent Chess Satisfied

Author:Magnus Carlsen

“One of the things that first attracted me to chess is that it brings you into contact with intelligent, civilized people - men of the stature of Garry Kasparov, the former world champion, who was my part-time coach.”

People Men World Firsts Intelligent Coaches Chess Contact Former Champion Civilized Stature Part Time World Champions

Author:Magnus Carlsen

About the Author

Born: November 30, 1990
Known for: Chess Player
Quotes: 58

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