The reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen was supposed to fight in the decisive match for the chess crown against the Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, who won the Candidates Tournament in Madrid. However, the Norwegian decided to refuse to participate in the final match..

" I thought about it for a long time, about a year or even a year and a half since the last match. I talked about it with my team, with FIDE, with Nepomniachtchi.

I have no motivation to play another match. I just feel like I don't have as many desires, I don't like it. And although I'm sure that the match would be interesting, I just decided not to play it,"

At the same time, Carlsen noted that he was not going to leave chess.. The Norwegian plans to take part in tournaments that are more interesting for him than playing with the Russian for the chess crown.

Thus, according to the regulations, in the match for the title of world chess champion, Nepomniachtchi's opponent will be the Chinese Ding Liren, who took second place in the Candidates Tournament.

Magnus Carlsen is a multiple world champion and the undisputed chess crown holder since 2013 when he beat Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. Then the Norwegian successfully defended the title in a match against Anand, as well as against Russian Sergey Karyakin and American Fabiano Caruana.

Last year, Carlsen defeated Nepomniachtchi in the final and became the world chess champion for the fifth time..

Earlier it was reported that in the center of Lutsk, an eight-year-old boy collects money for the military by playing chess.