Magnus does not defend world championship

https://www.chess.com/news/view/magnus-carlsen-not-to-defend-chess-world-title

The end...or another beginning?

If he thinks this ends any discussion, it will be just the start.

I admit to be a bit surprised, as I thought that he would play in the end, but it is what it is. 

In my opinion, whoever wins the title will have a hard time proving that he deserves it in these circumstances, which is bad. Not a good news, that is for sure.

I think a lot of people think he just did, and its too much to take in.

It starts off bad if he cant say why in the early press release.

He thought 'it' was inevitable,,,which its not. So then hes not that serious...will this be thought of as just taking some time off?

Magnus has nothing to prove anymore it is good for him to stand aside for the next generation. 

u mean like pull all his fillings out ?

Kudos to Magnus. Choose your own path, now that you’ve earned it. Enjoy the rest of your life as you wish! The rest of the crowded field will of course continue on and make new history. 

Magnus will be the people's champion regardless of who wins next year. Being the world's No.1 ranked player and being the world chess champion are two different things. So Magnus will probably still be the #1 ranked player...

Magnus is a clever man, he knows what he's doing.

What's with all the Fischer talk? The situation is completely different. Magnus is level-headed, and he defended his title 4 times. He spent approximately one fifth of his time in the last 10 years preparing for world championship matches, and just doesn't want to keep doing that. He doesn't depend on it financially, so that additional motivating factor is also absent. It's as simple as that.  And by the way, he's not retiring from chess. 

hey !..i gotta idea !! (doesnt happen often trust me)

lets get aholda bobby fishwich ! i heard hes living in manta sonica.

they say this might be him...3 yrs ago (age 76)...slogging up the street

He is his own person, one of the most logical chess players and I'm pretty sure his decision was well thought through. I don't understand why you feel annoyed, the guy chose the best route for himself and that's what counts in the long run.

This should serve as a kick on the butt for all the other players in the top 10.  With Magnus gone as world champion, they will now have better chances at becoming world champion.  I expect the "safety first" players like So and Giri to start taking more risks just to get into the next Candidates tournament.

The only person I feel sad for is Hikaru 

Why, if he would have come second, then Magnus might have defended the title

He's got nothing more to prove.  He'll have plenty of commercial opportunities lined up, and he can have fun picking and choosing what to do with the rest of his career, without committing to another gruelling WC match.  He's a great ambassador for the game and will continue to be.  Good luck to him.

I'm looking forward to the Ding-Nepo match, and the next generation of elite players emerging alongside them.

According to Magnus Carlsen, he went to Madrid to tell FIDE that he would not defend his title. In which case his decision was already made. It's very likely whoever finished second in the Candidates was irrelevant to his decision. (Hikaru's ego might not like to think that though!)

As a World Champion, Carlsen is so dominant that it offers him very little interest anymore.

Nepo's play the last WC was so blunder-filled, that Magnus called it "absurd". He viewed the whole thing as a waste of his time.

He also watched the recent Candidates and said that none of the players impressed him.

It's no fun when you're so strong that you have no equal. No one to truly fight against. No one to test you.

Every World Champion deserves to have a rival ...

hmmm...i think itsa tooth thingy. they say BF got his fillings pulled (russian transmitter stuff ?). wondering now if MC's got his wisdom teeth removed if thatd make it more competitive.

Dentist: You'll be just fine. FIDE's paying for the extractions.