I'm relatively new to chess.  Saw the documentary on this new phenom Magnum Carlsen - says he's the highest rated in the world.  Why isn't he the world champion then?  Is that Indian guy dodging him, like Spassky and the Russians dodged Fischer for years back in the late '60's?

He did not participate in the last Candidate's cycle because he didnt like the format, however he will be participating in the next cycle, his first WC cycle

well for one spassky never dodged fischer or the russian players. back then politics played a huge part of chess. that is why fischer acted the way he did, well other then being crazy. as for magnus he did not enter the candidates matches, do to playing matches that got him to 2800+. rest assured he will challenge the title soon

I expect more of the same. There's no reason to change the formula at this point since losing now is curtains. This one is going to the tie breaker...

I suppose people see Carlsen bringing something new to chess.

Magnum's what, 21 years old now?  Wow, if he becomes champion next year, he could have a long long reign, maybe longer than Kasparov.  On that documentary, it showed him not looking at the boards and still knowing all the positions of many games - is that for real you think?

I can't believe you called him Magnum LOL

Yes. A blindfold simul with 10 games. It was very impressive.

not to take away from the achievement, but blindfold simuls are not as difficult as they seem, at least at the top level. GMs that never got the title have played over 25 people blindfolded at once. Its awesome, but because someone can do 10 at once doesnt make them an immediate prodigy. Altho magnum is considered one

It's pretty extraordinary to us regular folk.

Not that impressive because people have done more in the past? I'd disagree. A 9.8 second 100m is impressive even though Bolt has run much faster.

yeah like 9.48 right

He was beating Masters though, not just making moves against patzers. It doesn't need to be a world record to be impressive, or even that close.

arguably playing blindfold against masters might be easier for the first half of the games -- since it is quite unlikely that the game will leave "book" openings. While playing a patzer it's likely to get wierd positions by move 8.

Whatever, the exact time is irrelevant. 10.1 is impressive. The point was just because people have better doesn't mean it can't be impressive.

is the next WC match next year?or in 2014?I thought it was every 2 years

Well I reckon I could beat the world record as white. 1. f3 then 2. g4 and I could complete 100 games easily.

RE: Alekhine.  That's funny Joey.  Moral: Chess can drive you to drink?

honestly i think carlsen could crush anand or gelfand he just didnt play compared to carlsen i dont think there play is that good

Maybe that's why they're dodging him?  Has Magnum ever played Anand in his life?

yes davy 33 games accrding to chessgames

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?yearcomp=exactly&year=&playercomp=either&pid=12088&player=&pid2=52948&player2=&movescomp=exactly&moves=&opening=&eco=&result=