How does anyone become a great chess teacher?Magnus Carlsen explains it to you
(CNN) - The world number 1 of the world is not."I have a simple rule in life: if you are going to fight the champion in anything, do it virtually," Magnus Carlsen joked in a tweet after it was announced that a virtual version of him, at 10 years, went toFace the world champion of Boxeo Manny Pacquiao in a Balefic chess game on October 1.
Pacquiao, who is a great chess player, is also aware of the challenge he faces.
"I have fought against some hard rivals in the ring, but I have never faced anyone like @Magnuscarlsen in a chess game," Pacquiao said.
Since he beat the former world champion Anatoli Karpov to take the title of Grand Master at age 13, Norwegian Carlsen is known for the psychological advantage he has over his competitors.
"I think being mentally flexible is very important during the game," says Carlsen to CNN Sport.The Norwegian, along with Anish Giri and the Polish prodigy Jan-Krzysztof Doubt, reflected on the secret to becoming a great chess teacher.
"The conditions change during the game, something that you thought it was correct may not be, the situation changes to attack [to] defend," Carlsen added.
"So being able to endure those changes without losing concentration and also without losing your composure is very, very important".
Giri is Dutch chess player number 1 of the ranking.Like Carlsen, he believes that having the ability to maintain concentration for long periods of time, and remain agile mentally, is the key to success in chess.
"The concentration is very, very important during the game [...] because what happens with chess is that it is very implacable, "Giri tells CNN Sport.
"Only a few seconds of loss of concentration and a precipitous decision can ruin the entire departure".
"So it is important to maintain concentration throughout the game and for this it is necessary, of course, mental stability".
Dutch chess player Anish Giri (left), number one in the ranking, says that staying mentally agile is the key to becoming a great teacher.
A pinch of ambition
Carlsen has early memories of having dedicated hours of practice to this sport.
At five years, his father had taught him to play chess, but it wasn't until later when his hobby became a full trade trade.
When the primary school ended, the following year passed by traveling throughout Europe to play chess, a creditor of multiple awards and getting first place in the classification list of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in 2010.
"In childhood, I always had to play against players stronger than me," says Carlsen.
"But something happened when I was 16 or 17 years old.I was facing the best players in the world, my mentality changed a little ”.
"So now I need to be the strongest.I need to have the toughest mentality to overcome them.And I think that after changing that mentality, I went from being one of the best players to someone who could really be the best ".
Play against rivals that had more experience that Carlsen certainly paid off.
In 2012, he won the London Chess Championship for the third time, but jumped to fame that same year, when his rating increased to 2861, breaking the record of the Russian legend Garry Kasparov of 2851, which had remained undefeated since 1999.
Carlsen's star streak was a precursor to his most transcendental achievement to date, when he beat the great Indian chess teacher Viswanathan Anand to become world champion at 22 years.
"I think there are many factors that can decide if you become a very strong chess player, even a great teacher or one of the best players in the world," he says.
"For me, personally, it's about spending time, obviously.And for me, I don't think I could have gone far in chess without the classification levels again, that has been promoted [...] All these years, and as soon as I lost that, I would leave it ".
Magnus Carlsen (right) beat Indian Viswanathan Anand (left) during the World Chess Championship meeting to proclaim himself world champion at age 22 in Chennai, India.(AP Photo/Arun Sankar K.)
In search of a coveted prize
After conquering the world of chess, Carlsen now seeks the first NFT trophy in the history of this sport.
The coveted prize will be given to the winner of the Champions Chess Tour 2021, in which the world's most skilled players compete in ten fast chess tournaments.
"NFT are certainly something that I have known for a long time.Many of my friends are involved in the world of cryptocurrencies, so they have long talked about them, and it seems very interesting that the tour now incorporated them into the event.And then we will see what the interest is.But certainly, for me it will be a fun experience, "says Carlsen.
"I know that the NBA, with Top Shot, has already really adopted the NFT market, and I think that more and more sports that want to make NFTs an important part of sports memorabilia".
In addition to adding a new award to his trophy showcase, Carlsen is excited about sharing his victory with his followers.
"Fans can buy a version of the Champions Chess Tour trophy, as well as the most outstanding moments and other chess moments of the tour.While the trophy wins, I will be happy to share it with anyone! ".
Hours of practice
Few have approached Carlsen's brightness so much in his chess efforts as Giri, who became a great teacher when he was 14 years old, which made him the youngest person in the world to achieve that title at that time at that time.
Four times chess champion in Holland, beat Carlsen in 22 movements in the Tata Steel chess tournament in 2011.After winning numerous medals since then, now it is the chess number 7 of the world ranking.
Like his partner, he believes that spending time to training, often instead of other activities, is what separates the best players from the world of chess fans.
"To be a first -level chess player, you have no doubt dedicate a lot of your free time.It is easier to say how many hours I have not dedicated to chess than to say how many hours yes.I mean that, honestly, at some point, all my free time was busy with chess.Of course, I did all the things I had to do like going to school, few other things I had to do, "says Giri.
"My mother sometimes asked me to clean my room or to wash the dishes or whate.
"I think this is also necessary if you want to be the best in anything".
Giri, four times chess champion in Holland, beat Carlsen in 22 movements in the Tata Steel chess tournament in 2011.
Keep the balance
For others, knowing that they have the ability to become champions is something instinctive.
Doubt says that after winning the U-10 World Championship in 2008, he knew he would become a great teacher.
"In general, it's a bit funny, you know that when I was young [...] It was very obvious for me that one day I would become world champion ".
As a child, he was aimed at success, making six -hour training sessions with his coach of that time.Although since then it has reaped the fruits, being able to maintain such concentration from an early age was "very difficult".
"You need a lot of time, above all, you really have to focus on chess and only chess.You have to play in many tournaments, think about chess all the time ".
He became a great teacher at age 15 and won a series of awards as a Junior competitor, including the U-14 European Championship.
Now is the number 15 of the world and is known for its creative style and its ability to make quick decisions.
But even as a high -level competitor, he doubts that being able to disconnect from his environment and pay all his attention to the game can be a challenge.From time to time, he says he interrupts his games standing up and walking, to keep the balance.
"I would say that my concentration level is probably below my colleagues.".
"Taking into account my age [...] I should be able to do one thing at a time, but sometimes, you know, I like to think about something else during the game ".
"You have to find a balance, as in everything in life basically".
"You have to love the real game"
Doubt, number 15 of the world, it is known for its creative style and its ability to make quick decisions.
Although the three great teachers have followed alternative paths to success, what unites them is their loyalty to the trade.
Giri states that his passion for chess is what sustains his ambition and feeds his desire to strive.
"You have to love the real game, and that usually goes well with the key qualities.You have to be well to be alone, to be without other people around and not feel that you are missing something, simply be well with you, with yourself and with your thoughts ”.
"Just to immerse yourself in something and forget everything else".
Carlsen agrees.
"Personally, I am not 100% sure of what are the main skills for a high -level chess player, because normally when people ask me how they do this and that, I do not know, I have simply been doing it for a long time and youI will say why something is right, something is wrong, "he says.
"Patience, and have the ability to be analytical [...] to learn from your mistakes is important ”.
"It is important to make quick decisions and be able to trust them because they are often based on quite limited data".
"I find it very difficult to say if my skills are transferable.I think what many people say is that if you play chess, that can help you in other aspects of life ”.
"But if you only play chess, you'll only be good in chess.So that's what I know.So far I have only tried chess, so it is the only thing I know is good "
Alvin Whitney from CNN contributed this report.
