How come Magnus Carlsen is not playing in the World Chess Championship?

Rank    Name    Title    Country    Rating    Games    B-Year
 1     Carlsen, Magnus     g     NOR     2813     13     1990
 2     Topalov, Veselin     g     BUL     2805     0     1975
 3     Kramnik, Vladimir     g     RUS     2790     13     1975
 4     Anand, Viswanathan     g     IND     2787     13     1969
 5     Aronian, Levon     g     ARM     2782     9     1982
 6     Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar     g     AZE     2760     9     1985
 7     Grischuk, Alexander     g     RUS     2756     16     1983
 8     Svidler, Peter     g     RUS     2750     9     1976
 9     Gelfand, Boris     g     ISR     2750     7     1968
 10     Wang, Yue     g     CHN     2749     0     1987
 11     Ivanchuk, Vassily     g     UKR     2748     13     1969
 12     Gashimov, Vugar     g     AZE     2740     7     1986
 13     Radjabov, Teimour     g     AZE     2740     7     1987
 14     Shirov, Alexei     g     ESP     2737     13     1972
 15     Ponomariov, Ruslan     g     UKR     2737     0     1983

Because you have to qualify to play a match against the WC first and Magnus hasnt done so...... yet.

But his rating is higher than Topalov's

There is a qualification process to reach a match for the world championship , no matter what your rating is. You dont get a match for the WC based only on rating.

1. Because Carlsen withdrew from the qualification cycle.

2. Because he isn't ready yet.

3. But he's already qualified for the next cycle.

Saying that, doesn't the highest-rated player not already qualified obtain a qualification place into the candidates cycle?

There are 2 spots of this type. Carlsen and Kramnik will occupy them. Nonetheless, we're talking about the next candidates cycle, not one-on-one WC match.

I am aware, I was just thinking that if Carlsen does end up challenging the WC in the next Championship, it will be due (at least in part) to him being the highest-rated player.

did anyone else find this cycle to be a bit odd? Topalov only had to beat 1 guy correct? (World Cup winner Kamsky)

just because he was the last 2005 unoffical champion.. who lost

why the flyin´does chess players always expect life to be fair - or even halfway organised ? life is bloody chaotic - an´personally, I likes it like that  who the heck wants everything wrapped and parcelled in some kind of anodyne utopia of some unimaginative idiot´s inferioty complex ? 

I know everything cant be equal, and I personally think Topalov would have won anyway if a more traditional candidates would have been done. (or Kramnik, Carlsen would have been way to young IMO)

just wondering why they will need to reunify when it looked already settled. Topalov refused to play in the Mexico championship match if I remember

Carlson lost in the semifinals of the Chess World Cup 2007 to Gata Kamsky, which served as the qualification tournament of the current match. Kamsky went on to challenge (and lose to) Topalov for the right to face Anand for the championship.

The reason Topalov got a bye is convoluted, but is basically due to the terms of the 2006 reunification match. It was agreed that if Kramnick won, he would take Topalov's slot in the 2007 World Champhionship (as "Classical" champion, Kramnick refused to play in FIDE Championship events, and apparently the roster for 2007 was set before the reunification match). This is exactly what happened, and to make up for Topalov's exclusion from the 2007 Championship, Topalov was given the right to face the winner of the 2007 World Cup event (Kamsky) to decide who would compete to take down Anand.

yep, he was far too young at the time.

Carlsen will have his shot eventually

yeah he will get his shot and I believe he will do well.  World championship is much different than the tournaments Carlson has done so well in, World championship is researching and coming up with a complete arsenal in the months prior to battle, and its complete psychological warfare against one single opponent.  

Carlson is great, and with kasparov's training he will most definately be there one day, but I do not believe he has the necessary experience to be World Champion yet.  I am hoping to see him challenge soon though, that would be something to have a World Champ of his age.

"u done too much, much too young - you´re married with a son when u should be havin´fun - with mee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee"  ´

- life for livin´- walkin´in the woods, swimmin´in the sea, gettin´laid by  those deservin´ -  everythin´else is just yakkety yak

Somehow I don't think Carlsen will win the candidates tournament for 2011 WC.

Sure he has great teachers and highest rating, but he is also very new to the scene and his opponents have been working for years probably much harder than him for these types of goals.

It's just not statistically likely for someone that young.

But when carlson does make it to World Championship... it would be killer to see Kasparov fly in as part of his team lol.  That would be scary for the defending champ

 Amen!