Anish Giri shared his opinion on Magnus Carlsen’s activity at the elite level in an interview with Take Take Take. Giri believes that Carlsen has half-left, and recalls how Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov ended their chess careers.

Anish Giri

Anish Giri

Netherlands' No. 1

“Magnus has left. He has done this thing where he has half-left, which is a little confusing…

It would be a bit neater if Magnus would decide whether he stays or leaves. Like the way Fischer did, he left completely. And Kasparov as well, I’m sure after 2005 he could still have been fighting for the World’s No. 1 spot.

For players to become World’s No. 1 is such a difficult task with Magnus still playing… Gukesh is World Champion now, he’s getting lots of recognition, but also a lot of pressure.”

Magnus Carlsen finished 4th at the Norway Chess 2026, losing 4 games and winning 3. At the FIDE World Rapid Team Chess Championship 2026, Carlsen lost 4 games in a row, lost 28.8 points in the live Rapid rating, and dropped to 2803.2. Carlsen currently has the lowest rating since FIDE introduced Rapid ratings in 2012.

Credit: Lennart Ootes