I first met Magnus Carlsen at a BETBY corporate event in Riga, and even before the chess talk for the Revpanda LIVE podcast began, it was clear why he’s more than just a chess champion. Between rounds of golf and casual sightseeing, Magnus carries a calm focus and approachable charm, the kind that makes you want to listen to every word he says about the game he’s mastered.
Magnus shared a memory from his first visit to Riga, when he and his wife accidentally stumbled upon a restaurant located in the same building once frequented by Mikhail Tal, the legendary “Wizard of Riga”.
“So I felt that I was doing sightseeing right there and then,” he said, before praising the city’s modern charm, good food, and even golf courses, perfect distractions from the intensity of chess. Golf, it turns out, has become a passion for him in the last two years. “I think about chess all the time, but when I’m out at the golf course, I don’t think about it,” he explained.
Our conversation soon turned to chess. I asked him about his recent victory at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where he represented Team Liquid. Magnus described the experience as transformative:
Chess is an ancient board game, but it also works so perfectly online. This was an opportunity to bring chess to a bigger stage, to a new audience, in a way that hadn’t really been done before.
He emphasised that it wasn’t just about winning the final—it was the energy of the fans, the thrill of faster chess, and helping his team shine.
We then discussed how chess can reach younger generations. Magnus pointed out that while chess has always been admired as a “high culture” game, new formats are crucial to engaging more people.
The formats showcased at events like the EWC show exactly that. It’s exciting; it’s so much like a sport, more than we’ve ever seen on a chessboard. Younger people can just go ahead and learn everything, watch matches, and get the whole idea. Chess is everywhere—on a bus, in class, even on the subway.
Digital platforms are central to this transformation. Magnus highlighted how easier access to information levels the playing field, letting talented players emerge from anywhere in the world. AI, too, is reshaping the game: neural networks and self-learning engines have already revolutionised player training, and emerging AI tools promise tailor-made learning experiences that can attract new fans and lower the barrier to entry for anyone interested in chess.
I was curious what keeps Magnus motivated at this stage of his career, after reaching the very top. He was candid:
Honestly, I just love playing. I don’t love every format, every tournament—but the tournaments I do play, I enjoy a lot. There’s nothing in particular I need to achieve other than enjoying my favourite hobby that I happen to be very good at.
Magnus has also been active in ventures aimed at growing chess. He co-founded Take Take Take and works with platforms like BETBY and Chess.com. Take Take Take, he explained, aims to create products tailor-made for people to follow chess in a better way. “Everything I do is connected to chess,” he said. He sees esports as particularly impactful: faster online chess belongs in an esports setting, where fans can cheer, engage, and feel part of the action—much like at a football match.
Looking ahead, Magnus is optimistic about the next decade of chess. He believes digital and AI tools will continue to make the game more accessible and engaging. He also sees himself playing a key role, not just as a competitor, but as a model for young players, showing the excitement and joy of chess through his play.
I just hope people get inspired to play more chess, watch, learn, and enjoy the greatest game in the world.
After spending time with Magnus in Riga, it’s clear that his vision for chess goes far beyond trophies. He’s shaping a future where chess is faster, smarter, more accessible, and more fun, a game that anyone, anywhere in the world, can pick up, play, and love.