Magnus Carlsen’s reign as an abdicated world champion will formally start late next month when a winner is declared in the €2m, 14-game match for the newly vacant title between the world No 2, Ian Nepomniachtchi, playing under a neutral Fide flag, and the world No 3, Ding Liren. The venue is Astana, Kazakhstan, which borders both Russia and China.
Some chess fans may not recognise the Astana winner as a genuine world champion, and for them there is now the prospect of two major events, one online and the other over-the-board. Carlsen, still No 1 in the classical rankings and still the world rapid and blitz champion, will take on the four top US grandmasters, all of whom have had their moments against the Norwegian in previous tournaments and matches.
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