Magnus Carlsen makes rookie mistake during Bullet Chess Championship

Recently-dethroned world champion Magnus Carlsen turned up in Barcelona for the Bullet Chess Championship recently, only to realise his mistake.

By: Sports Desk
July 18, 2023 07:26 AM IST

2 min read

File image of world champion Magnus Carlsen. (PHOTO: FIDE)

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Recently-dethroned world champion Magnus Carlsen turned up in Barcelona for the Bullet Chess Championship recently, only to learn that the event was not an over-the board tournament. He ended up playing his games on Day 1 of the Championship from his hotel room with another player, Eric Hansen, who had made the same rookie mistake.

“We both made the same mistake. We thought the Bullet Chess Championship was an over-the-board tournament. So we showed up here in Barcelona ready to play and now have to face each other on the screen,” says the World No 1 in a video shot in a Barcelona hotel room where he is accompanied by Canadian Grandmaster Hansen.

“It’s better in person. Hope you watch,” chimes in Hansen.

The Bullet Chess Championship is a one-minute chess tournament, which started on Monday and will run till Friday.

Besides Carlsen and Hansen, this year’s competition will also see players like Hikaru Nakamura (the defending champion), Anish Giri and Alireza Firouzja competing for the title.

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