STAVANGER, Norway — Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in chess, has gained a level of celebrity that few others in the game can match. He became a grandmaster at the age of 13 and gained further recognition by refraining from competing against an American player who faced cheating allegations. Carlsen’s foray into online chess gaming has also contributed to his fame, making him a recognizable name not just within chess circles but also among the general public.
Carlsen’s celebrity status is often compared to that of legends like Garry Kasparov and Bobby Fischer. In fact, he has recently been honored by the International Chess Federation as the greatest player of all time, surpassing both of these icons. However, the 33-year-old Norwegian’s desire to accumulate more titles has diminished. He now seeks to use his fame to transform chess into a sport that attracts spectators. “I’m in a different stage in my career,” he stated. “I still want to play, but I don’t necessarily have that hunger. I play for the love of the game.”
In his latest venture, Carlsen has introduced an application called Take Take Take. This app aims to enhance the viewer experience by providing accessible commentary and analysis on live chess matches, a feature that Carlsen believes is often lacking on popular streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Describing the ambiance of the new platform, he remarked, “It will be a chiller vibe.”
Carlsen plans to utilize his chess expertise to deliver insights on upcoming games, starting with the World Chess Championship match set for November between Ding Liren of China and Gukesh Dommaraju of India. Notably, he won’t be participating in this championship as he chose to step back from the title race in 2023.
The chess app landscape is not new to Carlsen; he previously launched Play Magnus in 2014, which allowed users to compete against a chess engine based on his individual playstyle. This venture expanded and was acquired for approximately $80 million by Chess.com in 2022, which is the leading platform for online chess.
Together with Mats Andre Kristiansen, the CEO of his company, Fantasy Chess, Carlsen is optimistic about Take Take Take. They anticipate that the app’s features—such as following specific players and games with easy-to-understand explanations—could draw in casual chess fans who might find traditional offerings too complex. The app has been released for free initially to grow its user base before exploring monetization options like advertisements or in-depth analytical features, as Kristiansen pointed out.
While Take Take Take is entering a competitive arena dominated by established platforms, including Chess.com, which boasts over 100 million users, it hopes to carve out its niche. The overall valuation of the chess gaming market is significant, with entities like World Chess being valued at around $54 million at its London Stock Exchange debut.
Carlsen noted that the rise of chess engines has facilitated cheating, but they also serve as valuable tools for strategic preparation. “I think the games today are of higher quality because preparation is becoming deeper and deeper and artificial intelligence is helping us play,” he remarked, emphasizing the positive impact on learning and analyzing games, particularly for new players.
Despite his undeniable talent, Carlsen acknowledged that, after two decades as a grandmaster, he has felt a decrease in his cognitive speed. “Most people have less energy when they get older. The brain gets slower. I have already felt that for a few years,” he explained. Nevertheless, he remains confident in his abilities, asserting that he still retains the energy, experience, and computational skills needed to remain competitive.
Since becoming the world’s top-ranked player in 2011, Carlsen has fueled a surge in chess popularity. He clinched the first of his five World Championships in 2013 and set the record for the highest chess rating at 2882 in 2014. Over the last 13 years, he has held his position as the undisputed world number one. Additional influencers, including the second-ranked Hikaru Nakamura, have leveraged social media to promote chess, while the Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit” successfully introduced the game to an even broader audience in 2020.
Further drawing attention to the game was Carlsen’s public dispute with Hans Niemann, an American grandmaster implicated in past cheating. Although there was no evidence of Niemann cheating in live matches, the controversy sparked a heightened interest in chess, breaking it free from its often staid image. As Carlsen transitions away from direct competition, it remains to be seen how the chess community will evolve without the full involvement of its most celebrated player.