After the IOC recently opened the door for the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes, the topic is hotly debated on the international sports scene. Chess superstar Magnus Carlsen has since changed his mind. The Norwegian now clearly spoke out against a return. The timing of his statements is quite explosive.
Magnus Carlsen’s word carries weight in the chess scene. If what is probably the greatest player of all time has his say on a topic, it will be heard. The fraud scandal surrounding Hans Niemann showed where this can lead. Initiated by the Norwegian, the posse made headlines around the world and garnered a level of attention that the sport doesn’t otherwise get in this form.
An interview by Carlsen with the Norwegian broadcaster “TV2” could trigger another loud echo within the chess world. In the conversation, the superstar positioned himself on the “Russia question” for the first time in a long time. And his point is clear.
“I feel like every day the war goes on it feels weirder to play against Russians,” said Carlsen, changing his own course with it. At the beginning of the war, he was still of the opinion that one had to be careful about banishing people: “Because one doesn’t know what long-term consequences that will have.”
But now that Russia’s attack against Ukraine is getting longer and longer, “perhaps I feel more like maybe Russians shouldn’t play after all,” explained the superstar.
The 32-year-old added that it was not in his hands to make a decision in this regard. At the same time, Carlsen is fully aware of its exceptional position. The Norwegian knows that the world association FIDE reads along when the biggest name in the scene comments on such an explosive topic.
The timing of Carlsen’s statements is particularly piquant, because the world championship, the most important event of the year, is already on the agenda in just a few weeks. With Ian Nepomniachtchi, a Russian player takes part. He fights against the Chinese Ding Liren for the biggest title in chess.
While Nepomniachtchi will have to play under a neutral flag should he win and rise to the top of the chess world, Russia will also claim that victory. This thought not only annoys Magnus Carlsen.