In a stunning upset at the ongoing World Rapid and Blitz Championships, the world's top-ranked chess player, Magnus Carlsen, suffered a defeat to Russian Grandmaster Vladislav Artemiev on Saturday. The loss visibly frustrated the Norwegian champion, who later showed his irritation by pushing away a camera as he left the venue.
A High-Stakes Clash Ends in Upset
The much-anticipated match was a crucial top-of-the-table encounter. Playing with the white pieces, Magnus Carlsen started cautiously but seemed to be making the early running. However, Vladislav Artemiev, the 2019 European Chess Champion, gradually seized control of the game. He used his bishops with great effectiveness to outmanoeuvre Carlsen and build a dominant position.
As time pressure mounted, Carlsen, with less than 37 seconds left on his clock, made a critical error. He moved his bishop to g2, a blunder he immediately recognized as decisive. The world champion resigned the game shortly after this move, handing a significant victory to his Russian opponent.
Carlsen's Visible Frustration and Tournament Standings
The aftermath of the defeat saw an uncharacteristic display of emotion from Carlsen. As he exited the playing hall, a cameraman followed him closely. An evidently irritated Carlsen responded by pushing the camera away before walking off, unwilling to engage with the media attention surrounding his loss.
This victory extends Artemiev's impressive run in the tournament. Earlier, he had also defeated India's top-ranked player, Arjun Erigaisi. The 27-year-old Russian Grandmaster, who earned his title in 2014, now leads the standings with 5.5 points. Magnus Carlsen sits in second place with 5 points.
Following them in the rankings are France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in third place and Spanish Grandmaster David Anton Guijarro in fourth. The reigning world champion, D Gukesh of India, is currently placed fifth.
Carlsen's Strained Ties with FIDE
Away from the chessboard, Magnus Carlsen recently opened up about his strained relationship with FIDE, the international chess federation. He revealed that he has had no contact with FIDE and that his participation in the current championship is primarily due to his association with the event's organisers.
This is not the first time Carlsen has been at the centre of controversy at this event. During last year's World Rapid and Blitz Championships, he withdrew from the rapid section after being penalised for wearing jeans. Although he returned for the blitz event, he eventually shared the title with Ian Nepomniachtchi, adding another layer of drama to his complex history with the tournament.
