Magnus Carlsen has kept his word. He will not defend his World title.
The confirmation came from Carlsen during a podcast on Wednesday. The World No. 1 had said last year that he would be defending his crown, which had been sitting firmly on his head since 2013, only if the prodigious Alireza Firouzja qualified as his challenger.
The Norwegian felt there was no motivation for him to play another match for the World championship otherwise.
