Magnus Carlsen not to defend World Chess Championship title in 2023, Due to lack of motivation, but Not Retired yet.

Magnus Carlsen will not defend his world championship in 2023 against Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi as he is not motivated to play another match, the Norwegian five-time champion said in a podcast on Wednesday.

Magnus Carlsen does not defend his world Chess title, Nepomniachtchi is likely to face the runner up in the recent Candidates tournament, China's Ding Liren.

World Chess champions Magnus Carlsen Official Statement said in a Podcast, quotes .

"I feel I don't have a lot to gain, I don't particularly like (the championship matches), and although I'm sure a match would be interesting for historical reasons and all of that, I don't have any inclination to play and I will simply not play the match," he said on the podcast for his sponsor Unibet.

"Ultimately the conclusion stands, one that I'm pretty comfortable with, one that I've thought a lot about for a long time now, I would say more than a year... since long before the last match" in which he beat Nepomniachtchi without losing a game, Carlsen said.

"And I've spoken to people in my team, I've spoken to FIDE, I spoke to Ian as well. And the conclusion is, it's simple, that I am not motivated to play another match," said Carlsen, who has spent over a decade as the top-ranked player in the world.

Meanwhile, Nepomniachtchi won the Candidates Tournament in Madrid, 2022 and earned the right to play for the world title in 2023.

Candidates runner-up GM Ding Liren will face Nepomniachtchi for the world championship.

When does the Magnus Carlsen won his most recent world chess title.?

31-year-old Carlsen claimed his fifth world chess crown in Dubai in December 2021 with a crushing 7.5-3.5 victory against Nepomniachtchi. Thereafter he stated he is ‘unlikely’ to defend his world title.

I’m not retiring from chess, I’m an active player, Said Magnus Carlsen in a statement.

“Just so there is not ambiguity here: I’m not retiring from chess, I’m gonna be an active player, I’m leaving later today to go to Croatia to play the Grand Chess Tour. From there on I’m gonna go to Chennai to play the Olympiad, which is gonna be a lot of fun and the Norwegian team is seeded as number four there. And to Miami which is gonna be one of the real highlights of the year—the FTC Crypto Cup which is gonna be awesome. And right after that the Sinquefield Cup.”

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Reuters - Indian express