Magnus Carlsen shows his disgust over losing the World Blitz Championship

On one hand, it's really childish.

On the other hand, if it's due to his enormous will to be the best, I actually respect it

You say: "It's really childish"

You could stop there. There is nothing to respect in the petulant way he walked off stage. He is World Champion at regular chess and regarded by many as the strongest player of all time.  Surely he could show a bit more dignity and some respect for the winner?

He should learn from someone like Ronnie O'Sullivan (the brilliant snooker player).  Like all great champions O'Sullivan hates to lose, but he always conducts himself with dignity and shows respect for the other competitors.

I agree. That's not what I would respect about it.

 Not sure why those things matter.

I guess you're saying he represents more than himself, he's a representative of the sport, so no matter how he feels he should act in a dignified way.

I understand, but at the same time that seems very cold and inhuman to me. I like to see this human side people don't normally show in public. He was disgusted with his performance, and it showed. There's something about that I like in a competitor... not as a role model or even someone I'd want to be friends with, but I enjoy seeing that in a competitor.

Kasparov is another personality I probably couldn't tolerate for 5 minutes if I were in the same room with him... but I similarly enjoy his fighting spirit.

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Another thing that comes to mind is, for people like you and me, chess is not our profession, and we're not very good. Not only is it polite for us to be gracious in defeat, but it's also logical. For Carlsen this is his profession, and he is the best in the world. Feeling disgust for the outcome is logical for him.

Like I said though, I understand he represents more than himself, these are just my personal feelings.

I agree. flawers? Cake? This is not a party. This is world championship! This is not just a game. For many players there this is profession, serious work. Winning is everything. His behavior is normal.

O'Sullivan has to be a sarcastic example?

"He is World Champion at regular chess and regarded by many as the strongest player of all time. Surely he could show a bit more dignity and some respect for the winner?"

Kasparov and Fischer didn't take too well to losing, and neither does Carlsen...

Nobody has ever accused chess players of having much of an understanding of human emotion.  You don't see the second place world cup, super bowl or world series finishers standing around with a bouquet of flowers, smiling while someone sprays confetti all over them.   Not much dignity in this celebration, this is completely for the press and the photographers.  These guys are not trained ponies.  I completely understand walking off.

Poor Magnus :(

"Tell me, aren't you dizzy from lack of oxygen up in your tall tall high horses?"

Well, I think many have been considerably more irritated than Carlsen there at it being so long since he didn't win an event he participated in, so it's not often they can gloat and harp on about how much they dislike him :-)

Remember Kasparov when he screamed at everyone for a long time at the closing ceremony in Linares just because Radjabov was awarded the brilliancy prize for his win against Kasparov? :-)

Looked like a wedding to me! I suppose if it's your entire life, defeat can come down hard. Sometimes I'm afraid to play because I hate the way the game makes me feel getting my ass kicked, how stupid to not see a potential move...

Now here's the medal ceremony, when even Carlsen has to smile at Ivanchuk:

https://streamable.com/kw6h1

I think in this one and the Karjakin interview, Carlsen was stuck in a position of looking faintly ridiculous, and decided he'd had enough.  One where he was sitting on his own having lost a game, surrounded by cameras enjoying the moment, and another having lost being made to stand with a bouquet while being covered in confetti.  Perhaps he thinks it's time the World Chess Champion was shown a bit more respect, and I can't really blame him.

Carlsen was rude to walk away early from the prize ceremony and group photographs, there is no excuse for that, and its an insult to the other players too. As World Champion at the regular game , being very well rewarded for his efforts its not a lot to ask for him to smile for a couple of minutes. 

Of course he does not like losing , but these ceremonies are part of the 'job', and he is very well rewarded for it.

He is a great player for sure, but needs to grow up a little.

"its not a lot to ask for him to smile for a couple of minutes"

Maybe not, but I'm more interested in seeing him playing great chess, seeing him smile after being disappointed is something I care less about.

Id like to think he could manage both!