Magnus Carlsen, the GOAT of chess, added another milestone in his long list of achievements as he won the Norway Chess 2025. However, the victory did not make him as happy as one would expect, for him, it was just another title. This further cements his legacy as the greatest of all time in chess.
His recent remarks on the “once-in-a-generation” debate have sparked discussion across the chess community. While some agree with his statement, others call it arrogance. So what did he say? Let’s take a look.
Magnus Carlsen Wins Record Seventh Title At Norway Chess 2025
Magnus Carlsen clinched his record seventh Norway Chess title in 2025, a feat achieved after a dramatic clash against world champion Gukesh D. The final round saw Carlsen needing only a draw against Arjun Erigiasi to secure the championship, while his closest rival, Gukesh D, fumbled against Fabiano Caruana.
The tournament was marked by intense battles, although the standout moment of the tournament was Gukesh defeating the world number 1, Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen himself accepted that it was a game that would “stick” with him.
What Did He Say?
After his victory, Carlsen was about the rise of young talents like Gukesh and Arjun Erigiasi and potentially a “GOAT.” However, his response was blunt and insightful. He said, “There is no one at the moment. That’s the honest answer. I think Gukesh showed in this tournament that he’s on track. Every single one of them has very clear flaws, and that’s how it’s supposed to be at their age. Once-in-a-generation talents are once-in-a-generation talents for a reason – it’s not that easy”
He elaborated that while Gukesh and his peers are making remarkable progress, they are not yet ahead of “once-in-a-generation” talents like himself and Garry Kasparov. He said, “Maybe he’s not way ahead of track as we may have thought. I think he’s a bit like where I was in 2008-2009. He can do extremely well. The great results come not only with the quality of the positional play, but with a lot of fighting qualities.”
“That’s how kids are supposed to be. You’re not supposed to master everything at that age. As for the others, they’re good, but the likelihood of one of them becoming a clear number one, I don’t see very clearly. At the moment, I think the older guys are better,” he added
Magnus Carlsen’s comment on “once-in-a-generation” talents are both realistic and competitive. The statements highlight the challenges for the rising stars of the chess world while reinforcing his own legacy as of the game’s true legends.
Also Read: Magnus Carlsen Admits Game Against Gukesh Will “Stick” Despite Winning Norway Chess 2025
