Carlsen set to retain World Championship title

World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen (right) contesting the 2021 World Championship Match with Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi in Dubai, UAE (Photo: Niki Riga)

When World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won the first game of the classical championship match, a 136-move thriller, a colleague called and said, “It is finished.” The caller knew the might of Carlsen, and, supposedly, concluded his opponent did not stand a chance.