A World Chess Championship Without the World’s Best Player A victory by Ian Nepomniachtchi or Ding Liren would come with political overtones. But Magnus Carlsen’s absence is the talk of the final.
Magnus Carlsen Is Giving Up His World Title. Replacing Him Won’t Be Easy. The decision by the world’s best player to surrender his title means the game will have a new champion. But taking the crown is not the same as beating the man.
An Unmotivated Magnus Carlsen Will Give Up World Chess Title “I don’t have any inclination to play,” the reigning world champion said in announcing he would not defend his crown next year.