Magnus Carlsen created the world’s best player based on chess skills in a video on the Chess Flash YouTube channel. Carlsen selected several elite players, and chose himself in some of the characteristics.

Magnus Carlsen

Magnus Carlsen

World's No. 1

[Opening moves]

— Fabiano Caruana


[Strategy]

— Myself


[Endgame]

— Myself


[Creativity]

— Arjun Erigaisi


[Aggressiveness]

— Alireza Firouzja


[Game IQ]

— Hikaru Nakamura


[Variety]

— Myself


[Pressure resistance]

— Nodirbek Abdusattorov


[Time management]

— Myself

Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura took a lie detector test in August. Carlsen and Nakamura asked each other questions about their chess careers. Hikaru asked Magnus if he considers himself the greatest chess player in history. Carlsen agreed and explained that he had previously lied to himself when answering this question.

In various interviews, Magnus has denied or argued against calling himself the greatest player of all time. Carlsen has often mentioned Garry Kasparov or Bobby Fischer. In 2026, Magnus celebrated a streak of being World’s No. 1 in Classical chess for 15 unbroken years. Carlsen is a 5-time World Champion, 6-time World Rapid Champion, and 9-time World Blitz Champion.

Credit: Peter Doggers