Magnus Carlsen Dominates Casablanca Chess 2024, Considers Applying for Moroccan Citizenship
Magnus Carlsen, the unstoppable force of the chess world, has once again sent shivers through the timber of his opponents, winning the 2024 Casablanca Chess tournament. In a tournament that was as exciting as a car chase (with a strategic maneuver or two thrown in), Carlsen emerged victorious, leaving fans and players alike pondering whether he is human or some kind of grandmaster robot.The tournament featured rapid mini-games, a format just created for fun. And oh boy, did Carlsen have fun shaking things up! Despite some positions in the games looking as exciting as a chess player reading the dictionary, Carlsen managed to make even the most mundane moves feel like a plot twist in a summer blockbuster.Several aficionados expressed their concerns about players choosing their own positions, with one suggesting that a non-participating super GM should instead pick the starting scenarios. Critics believe that giving players this power is equivalent to letting kids write their own math tests—strategically advantageous but less challenging and nowhere near as fun.Amidst predictable reactions like “Of course he does…,” the standings revealed Carlsen comfortably leading with 4.5 points, Hikaru Nakamura trailing behind at 3.5, and Viswanathan Anand securing a respectable third place with 3. However, Amin Basem may have had a less-than-stellar performance, ending with approximately the same score as a beginner playing against level-1 AI at 1.0 points.An interesting trivia nugget emerged this year—despite the age-old notion that youth doesn’t always equate to victory, the youngest player winning the tournament has become Carlsen's latest hobby. This success follows his recent Candidates triumph, making 2024 the year of Magnus, unless he decides to take a sabbatical to explore other dimensions where he can find real competition.As the chess world marvels and continues to bow in reverence to Carlsen's extraordinary display of skill, rumors suggest he may seek Moroccan citizenship just for the authentic Casablanca vibe. Casablanca 2024 has set the bar incredibly high, and as we await the next tournament, one thing is clear: if it's got Magnus in it, we're in for a show.
Magnus Carlsen, the unstoppable force of the chess world, has once again sent shivers through the timber of his opponents, winning the 2024 Casablanca Chess tournament. In a tournament that was as exciting as a car chase (with a strategic maneuver or two thrown in), Carlsen emerged victorious, leaving fans and players alike pondering whether he is human or some kind of grandmaster robot.The tournament featured rapid mini-games, a format just created for fun. And oh boy, did Carlsen have fun shaking things up! Despite some positions in the games looking as exciting as a chess player reading the dictionary, Carlsen managed to make even the most mundane moves feel like a plot twist in a summer blockbuster.Several aficionados expressed their concerns about players choosing their own positions, with one suggesting that a non-participating super GM should instead pick the starting scenarios. Critics believe that giving players this power is equivalent to letting kids write their own math tests—strategically advantageous but less challenging and nowhere near as fun.Amidst predictable reactions like “Of course he does…,” the standings revealed Carlsen comfortably leading with 4.5 points, Hikaru Nakamura trailing behind at 3.5, and Viswanathan Anand securing a respectable third place with 3. However, Amin Basem may have had a less-than-stellar performance, ending with approximately the same score as a beginner playing against level-1 AI at 1.0 points.An interesting trivia nugget emerged this year—despite the age-old notion that youth doesn’t always equate to victory, the youngest player winning the tournament has become Carlsen's latest hobby. This success follows his recent Candidates triumph, making 2024 the year of Magnus, unless he decides to take a sabbatical to explore other dimensions where he can find real competition.As the chess world marvels and continues to bow in reverence to Carlsen's extraordinary display of skill, rumors suggest he may seek Moroccan citizenship just for the authentic Casablanca vibe. Casablanca 2024 has set the bar incredibly high, and as we await the next tournament, one thing is clear: if it's got Magnus in it, we're in for a show.