The 7 Most Mindblowing Magnus Carlsen Records

At just 33 years old, GM Magnus Carlsen has conquered pretty much every peak in the world of chess. On his journey to achieving G.O.A.T. status, he has also made his mark in history setting some incredible records.

Some of these records seem destined to stand the test of time. Here we present some of his most mind-blowing achievements.

• Longest Undefeated Streak
• Highest Elo Ever Recorded
• Most World Championship Doubles
• Longest Consecutive Reign As World Number-One
• Youngest Ever World Number-One
• Most World Championships Won
• Youngest Player To Ever Qualify For Candidates

Longest Undefeated Streak

His undefeated streak between July 31, 2018, to October 9, 2020, is by many regarded as his most impressive record. After losing against GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in Biel, Carlsen went 125 classical games without losing once.

During this period he scored an incredible 42 wins and 83 draws, until the streak was eventually broken by GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda during the fifth round of Norway Chess on October 9, 2020.

Carlsen destroyed previous records, held by GM Sergey Tiviakov, who had a 110-game streak between 2004 and 2005, and GM Ding Liren, who played 100 games without a loss.

An astonishing detail is that his opponents during this streak boasted an average rating of 2745, which equals a position among the world's top 20 players.

Highest Elo Ever Recorded

Carlsen's rating record of 2882 is another extraordinary feat that seems unlikely to be broken any time soon. The Norwegian maestro achieved the feat not once but twice—first in May 2014 and again in August 2019.

In 2014 he reached the mark by triumphing in the Shamkir tournament in Azerbaijan. Five years later, he replicated this feat with an impressive run of eight tournament victories, including the 2018 World Blitz Championship.

As of 2024, 14 players in the history of chess have broken the 2800 rating barrier. GM Garry Kasparov achieved 2851 in July 1999, while GM Fabiano Caruana made 2844 after his historic 8.5/10 in the 2014 Sinquefield Cup.

Most World Championship Doubles

In addition to his classical dominance, Carlsen has also dominated speed chess. With a total of 12 titles in the World Rapid & Blitz Championships, he stands head and shoulders above anyone else in this format.

What is truly remarkable is that he has clinched "The Double," winning both rapid and blitz championships in the same year, four times: 2014, 2019, 2022 and 2023.

That makes Carlsen the only player to defend a world championship title in speed chess, and the only one to defend a double.

It is worth noting that titles in rapid and blitz are fairly new in chess history and was only introduced by FIDE on a regular basis in 2012. Closest to Carlsen in terms of achievements is GM Alexander Grischuk who achieved three titles in blitz—in 2006, 2012 and 2015.

Longest Consecutive Reign As World Number-One

In the last 52 years since Elo ratings were introduced in July 1971, only seven players have topped it: GM Bobby Fischer, GM Anatoly Karpov, Kasparov, GM Vladimir Kramnik, GM Veselin Topalov, GM Viswanathan Anand, and Carlsen.

Kasparov's total reign of 22 years was interrupted twice. First by Karpov in 1994, then when Kramnik tied him in January 1996 but lost the top spot due to less games. Carlsen has the longest consecutive streak with 151 months from 2011 as of today in February 2024.

Carlsen took the number-one position in January 2010, but then Anand reclaimed the spot for a few months later that year and in 2011. Since July 2011, he has been uninterrupted as the world's highest-rated player.

Some fun facts about the gap to the number-two during his reign:

Highest gap: 74 points (October 2013)
Lowest gap: 3 points (November 2018)
Average gap: 40 points

Most World Championship Titles

Carlsen is still only 33 years old, but his trophy cabinet includes 17 world championship titles in all formats.

Classical World Championship: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021
World Rapid Championship: 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022 and 2023
World Blitz Championship: 2009, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023

The only notable absence is the World Fischer-Random (Chess960) Championship, an event that has only been organized twice.

Youngest To Ever Qualify For Candidates

In 2005 Carlsen shattered Bobby Fischer's long-standing record to become the youngest player to ever qualify for the Candidates tournament. The record was broken when Carlsen, as the 97th seed, finished 10th in the FIDE World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. 

As he beat experienced GM Vladimir Malakhov, he was 15 years and 14 days old, half a year younger than Fischer was when he qualified through the 1958 Interzonal tournament.

Youngest Ever World Number-One

Among the seven players to be ranked as the world number-one in history, Carlsen is the youngest one. When he first took the position in January 2010, he was 19 years old.

Which record do you think is the most impressive? Let us know in the comments below!