How the reigning chess champion is adapting to chess as an esport | Magnus Carlsen interview

Magnus Carlsen is a vaunted chess champion who has dominated the game for a long time. And now he’s an esport chess warrior. This year, the Norwegian champ took the plunge into esports and signed up with Team Liquid to compete in chess as an esport at the Esports World Cup.

He came out on top, to no one’s surprise. Carlsen won the inaugural chess event at the 2025 Esports World Cup, defeating Alireza Firouzja. That made him the first Chess Esports World Cup Champion.