The World's Most Arrogant Chess Player

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Articles and interviews referenced:

[bearcb]

Carlsen doesn’t come through as arrogant to me. He is entitled to some bragging, he’s undoubtedly the best, he knows it, everyone knows it. But his bragging is usually full of humor and self ironic. He is also the first to recognize brilliant playing from his opponents and praise them.

[Najdorf_]

Hikaru has only been his 'rival' since the pandemic in terms of online speed chess, Caruana is a much worthy rival in terms of classical chess.

[hasanatif]

To be honest, magnus is the only reason people like me started following chess & started getting interest in chess.
Even many of the young GMs idolizes him

[Luca-ybsh]

He has the peak rating, the resume, the extended and uncontested dominance, the most well-rounded game, faced the most leveled competition to this day (every top player from all over the world has access to the best resources) and he has the recognition of his contemporaries. I'd say he has the best case for the GOAT title.

[jozseftoth]

Considering all he has achieved so far.. he is actually very modest with his words.. definitely not arrogant.

[someunfunnyguy]

He's one of the few people to give life to chess.

[someunfunnyguy]

We are lucky to live in the same lifetime as arguably the best chess player of all time.

[lightofscorpio]

recently, a few gms were asked to rank their top chess players (including people who contribuled to chess, not just real players). and many of them ranked Carlsen as their #1.

[chsh]

He isnt arrogant. When someone asks who's the best, he says himself and it's normal because it's true. He has also a great sense of humor.

[justacommenter]

Not arrogance if you can back it up, it's confidence

[novm]

when people are so good at something like magnus at chess its incredibly hard not to sound arrogant and also be honest in interviews lol

[trinabaker]

I -- LOVE -- that Magnus is so wise that he valued his time and mind more than just another win.
Some things in life are more important than winning. That was his most brilliant move ... ever.

[melzz]

I drawn to chess after seen Carlsen game, especially after game 6 against Nepo, and queen sacrifice against Anish.
Those two games really catch my interest to chess.

Those are really a beautiful games.

[Nickmaharajhirschs]

Totally not arrogance , there's so many matches i watched of his and even stockfish couldn't even see drawing positions for him and he ended up winning them ...he plays stupid openings against other gms and still win it's amazing

[Xonatron]

He’s actually pretty modest and informative… listen to his interviews in full.

[anthonydawson]

As a casual fan, his games always felt like art. The journey to mate feels like a novel

[Somestuff_oderso]

One little correction: the number of moves in chess is NOT greater that the number of atoms in the universe. However, the number on possible games is.

[sheldonkupa]

Carlsen does put his pieces in order before any game, as this is his start routine to help him get into the right mind setting. Many GMs do that, or something similar. THAT is not arrogance. Also he is not that arrogant, to not critizise himself for bad quality of his play, even when winning. This maybe one of his secrets, like Bobby Fisher, to try always achieve highest quality. And he has a lot of respect for other chess players, which he demonstrated in a lot of occasions. My point is, what sounds arrogant, maybe in fact just true?!

[Bentleytalksaboutstuff]

Goal: Defeat older sister
Carlsen: Instructions unclear, I am now best in the world.

[jamiethomas]

Aronian was the closest thing i would call a rival in the early part of his career, while Hikaru fits the part in modern chess with faster time controls.