Magnus Carlsen, the greatest living chess player, challenged the world: historical draw against 143,000 players online
The largest living scacchist has just scored a company. Magnus CarlsenNorwegian legend of the chess, faced 143,000 opponents at the same time In an epic challenge on Chess.comduration well 46 days. The result? A flap. That’s right: the number one in the world has drawn against an entire community of fans connected by every corner of the planet.
The game, nicknamed “Carlsen vs the world”it was not a simple demonstration of skills, but a real one collective experiment of strategy and patience. Each move of the “world” players was chosen majoritywith 24 hours available to decide. Carlsen, alone, replied moved after move, with the calm that distinguishes him, while a virtual crowd tried to put him in difficulty.
But the most interesting thing? It was played in freestyle modea variant in which the main pieces (excluding pedestrians) start from random positions. A way to put out the cards and make the game more unpredictable, perfect for a challenge of this reach.
It is not the first time that it happens, but it’s a new record
The game ended with one triple repetitiona rule that decrees equality when the same configuration on the chessboard is repeated three times. No winner, therefore, but a lot of mutual respect. Carlsen praised his opponents for their game “solid and prudent“. No bold moves, but a constant strategy that worked.
It is not the first time that a champion faces “the world”. In 1999 Garry Kasparov He challenged over 50,000 people online, winning. Last year, the former Indian champion Anand He replied the experiment, also leaving the winner against 70,000 challengers. But Carlsen has established a new recordfacing the largest crowd ever seen on a digital chessboard.
At 34, Carlsen remains a titanic figure of the game. Great teacher at only 13 years old, he was the only one in history to simultaneously hold the titles of Classic world champion, rapid And blitz. Although this time he “only” drawn, he has shown that not even a genius can so easily defeat the strength of the collaboration.
