Magnus Carlsen, the five-time world champion and widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time, gave a rare and raw interview to Al Arabiya News. Speaking to presenter Micheal Prendergast, Carlsen opened up about his disinterest in classical chess and the changes in his personal life.

“I haven’t enjoyed classical chess for years,” Carlsen confessed, dismissing it as something he’s no longer focused on. He pointed to modern preparation and overwhelming shared knowledge as factors that drained the joy out of the format.

He said his passion has shifted toward creative formats like Chess960, which he described as a return to his “childish joy.” These styles, according to Carlsen, allow imagination to flourish without the burden of memorization.

Gukesh, Nakamura, and Niemann: Carlsen Doesn’t Hold Back

Carlsen made headlines by saying he does not believe teen prodigy Gukesh is the best player in the world. While praising Gukesh’s World Championship win over Ding Liren, Carlsen noted the Indian star had lackluster results in recent classical and blitz events.

On Hikaru Nakamura’s record-breaking blitz rating of 3,408, Carlsen was dismissive. He said he doesn’t have the time or patience to grind down lower-rated players like Nakamura does during long streaming sessions.

When asked if he had spoken to Hans Niemann—the center of the infamous cheating scandal—Carlsen gave a sharp one-word answer: “No.” This curt reply follows a years-long drama that included cheating allegations, a viral loss, a lawsuit, and a media frenzy.

Magnus vs the World, Streaming Culture, and the Jeans Controversy

Carlsen reflected on the viral “Magnus vs the World” match with 143,000 players, saying the crowd played “too well” and that the endgame became drawish due to community-driven engine moves. Still, he found the experience fun and appreciated the novelty of it.

The Norwegian Grandmaster also took a swipe at FIDE, the sport’s governing body, over a past incident where he was reprimanded for wearing jeans. He called the ruling “an absurd overreaction” and said it demonstrated the organization’s incompetence.

He downplayed friendships with fellow competitors like Nakamura, saying rivalries make close relationships difficult. “I often achieve what they want to do—and sometimes vice versa—so it’s hard to be too close,” he admitted.

As Carlsen prepares to become a father with wife Ella, he seems content shifting his focus. “There are other things to life,” he said, though he made clear: “I’ll always enjoy the game.”