Magnus does not defend world championship

Gostaria de ser uma campeão dês estirpe e poder esnobar um campeonato mundial desses e escolher o que fazer da vida. Sensacional

Some say Magnus has no competition, so stepped out.

Another point of view is he saw Nepo play recently, and is so worried about losing, he walked away.

As others have mentioned- I'd rather he say he wasn't going to defend, before the candidates tourney.

Now this looks more like fear or sour grapes. Taking his marbles and going home.

Carlsen said, in an interview, that his original goal was only ever to win 1 World Championship title. After that, he said he only played more to satisfy the expectations of others.

He said #4 and #5 meant "nothing" to him. He didn't enjoy playing for them, nor did he care much about winning.

So it's understandable why he's stepping down. He has lost interest. He wants to move on to other things.

Nakamura did try for second place. His quick draw against Nepo was part of that plan, he didn't want to risk losing. He just didn't manage to hold a draw in the last game, otherwise it would have worked. As for Caruana, for some time he had the chance of playing for first. If he would have set his mind on second place earlier on and adjusted his play accordingly, then maybe he could have managed.

It's funny how people are speculating, when all one has to do is take him by his word. He said a long time ago (even to his team before the last match) that he would not want to defend his title again, unless it's against someone from the newer generation. With more than 70 Elo points ahead and given their head-to-head record, it's ridiculous to think he's afraid of losing.

^^ exactly. Most of it is absurd too. All this "Maybe he.." and "It looks like..". He didn't feel the need or desire to participate. Is it allowed to be that simple, or does there have to be some ulterior motive every time Carlsen does something?

Yeah, moving from player to commentator. In the candidates he was following the outcome closely.

"We have a special guest with us tonight. Magnus Carlsen"

"Yes I am  doing great at the crypto open"

"Um..OK Magnus..what do you think about the World Championship"?

"Yeah, I just quit the World Championship so Im ready to talk about it..be with the guys...you k now chill....with Caruana. Oh hes with chess.com? Just kidding. The usual suspects."

Nobody can go crazy like bobby. Bobby was the best. At going crazy as well.

So you say.  History cares not. Magnus even less 

Most players don't really care about Fischer anymore, anyway. In the modern scheme of things, he's irrelevant.

"Bobby who?"

The relentless passage of time has that effect ...

lol

 "That's so undisciplined! Smell the blood in the water, dude, be a f***ing shark!"

I can't believe Carlsen refuse another million dollar paycheck. Does his modelling career earn much? Will Carlsen have a professional dance career like his former coach GM Agdestein?

zactly!

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/off-topic/finally-magnus-is-free

Although it sounds like bad news for the chess world, it is a decision that should be respected.

Why should he play a match for which he lacks motivation? It would mean months of preparation just to win another title, and it would force him to keep running in that treadmill for years or even decades to come until he finally gets beaten?

If it really is bad news? I'm not sure about it. We'll see a match between Nepomniachtchi and Ding, both excellent chess players. We'll have a new world champion. And we'll have Magnus Carlsen in other tournaments.

In ice hockey e.g., Finland are proud world champions, even if neither the U.S. nor Canada show up with their best players and even if Russia was banned from the tournament. In e.g. athletics "world champion" is always the best one who is not injured when the race is run. What if Carlsen became ill before the match? And would he have to become ill instead of preventing becoming ill by playing in spite of maybe mental exhaustion?

but what does he have to prove? the fact that everyone is weaker than him? the man has been a world champion for over a decade and the only 2800 breathing alive, its just incomparable at this point with barely anybody being able to strike good chances against him, ding or fabi can

We'll have Nepo, who completely ruled the Candidates tournament.

And we'll have Ding, who wouldn't even have played, if Karjakin wasn't banned, and who started very weak, just to come back from the bottom of the table to a decisive last game against Nakamura. On super grandmaster level, it is incredibly hard to play for a win when all your oppenent needs is a draw. But he did.

I think both players are worthy competitors and we'll see some great chess.

totally agreed