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Magnus Carlsen

Carlsen Makes Surprise London Detour For World Rapid & Blitz Champs Warm-UpMagnus Carlsen is heading to London for an unusual appearance in a tournament open to amateurs as he prepares to defend his world rapid and blitz titles.November 8, 2026·4 min read

Carlsen Targets Esports World Cup Hat-Trick—And Another Monster PaydayMagnus Carlsen has won both editions of the Esports World Cup chess competition without losing a match. Now he is heading back for a third title as organisers overhaul qualification following a controversial clash with the Grand Chess Tour.November 7, 2026·7 min read

Carlsen In Crisis: 'There's Just A Mess In My Head'Will Magnus Carlsen come back to classical after this? The 35-year-old's rollercoaster ride at Norway Chess has hit rock bottom after his latest loss.May 31, 2026·3 min read

World Chess Weekly: Magnus Reminds Us Who's Daddy At Norway ChessNorway Chess has been up-and-down for the former World Champion. But on Thursday, he faced the current World Champion—and won with all his usual aplomb.May 29, 2026·4 min read

Magnus Carlsen Is Last On The Leaderboard At Norway Chess After Another LossHe's the world number-one. He's the GOAT of chess. He's won it seven times... But he collapsed in time trouble.May 28, 2026·3 min read

The Greatest Chess Player Alive Almost Resigned on Saturday. The Room Was Too Hot.Magnus Carlsen nearly quit mid-game at the GRENKE Classic in Karlsruhe. Not to his opponent. To the weather.April 5, 2026·2 min read

Magnus Carlsen agreed to the photo. Then he turned around and told the judges.At the Grenke Chess Festival in Germany this week, an 18-year-old Kazakh player named Alua Nurman did what any reasonable teenager would do when she found herself sitting across from the greatest chess player in history: she asked for a selfie.April 4, 2026·1 min read

Magnus Carlsen Went 9–0 in Freestyle Chess. Which Was the One Thing That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen.The whole point was chaos. Magnus made it feel scripted.April 21, 2025·2 min read

Magnus Carlsen Stepped Away From Classical Chess. He’s Now Speedrunning Its Replacement.Fischer Random was supposed to flatten the field. Carlsen flattened it anyway.April 21, 2025·3 min read

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Chess Terms

Term of the day

Chess Skewer

The reverse of a pin: the valuable piece is hit first and the one behind it falls.

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One move, two threats: a fork attacks two pieces at once, and only one can be saved.

A pinned piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable one behind it.

Discovered Attack

A piece steps aside and uncovers an attack from the piece it was blocking.

Back Rank Checkmate

Mate on the last rank: the king's own pawns leave it nowhere to run.

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