STAVANGER: As Magnus Carlsen lifted a record-extending seventh Norway Chess title on Friday, his father Henrik Carlsen reflected on the enduring significance of a city that has long been woven into the fabric of his son鈥檚 chess journey 鈥 Dubai.
鈥淒ubai has been part of Magnus鈥 chess journey for over 20 years now,鈥 Henrik said after his son secured victory with a final-round win over India鈥檚 Arjun Erigaisi.
鈥淗e took his final GM norm there in 2004, won his first double crown in 2014, and played his last World Championship match during World Expo 2020. That kind of continuity is rare.鈥
Carlsen, 34, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in chess history, finished with 16 points 鈥 narrowly edging out American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana (15.5) and reigning world champion D Gukesh of India (14.5). The win meant the Norwegian star extended a remarkable run at the top of the sport that now spans over two decades.
鈥淚 used to say that everything after he became a GM was a bonus 鈥 and the bonuses just kept coming,鈥 Henrik said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 still winning tournaments, still competing at the highest level even as he鈥檚 preparing for a new chapter, becoming a father himself.鈥
Carlsen鈥檚 ties to Dubai began in 2004, when he achieved his final grandmaster norm at the sixth Dubai Open at just 13 years old. The performance made him the youngest GM in the world at the time and the second youngest in history behind Sergey Karjakin.
A decade later, he returned to Dubai to make history again, clinching both the World Rapid and World Blitz Championships in June 2014 鈥 becoming the first player to simultaneously hold world titles in all three time controls.
In 2021, the city again played host to a milestone moment. At Expo 2020 Dubai, Carlsen defended his World Chess Championship title against Ian Nepomniachtchi, including a marathon Game 6 that lasted nearly eight hours and 136 moves 鈥 the longest match in World Championship history.
Dubai was also the stage for Carlsen鈥檚 appearance in the inaugural Global Chess League in 2023, where he reaffirmed his dominance and trademark confidence. 鈥淚鈥檓 still the best,鈥 he declared, a statement made with calm assurance and underlined by his relaxed demeanor.
Despite an evolving look 鈥 in Stavanger this week, rather than sporting his trademark ponytail his tousled hair whipped in the breeze 鈥 Henrik said little has changed beneath the surface.
鈥淗e鈥檚 still the same cocky young man 鈥 and I mean that in the best way,鈥 he said, referring to a famous moment of frustration when Carlsen slammed a table after his loss to Gukesh in Round 6. 鈥淚n our family, arrogance isn鈥檛 a flaw if you鈥檝e earned it 鈥 and Magnus certainly has.鈥
Henrik also dismissed recent speculation about a possible move to the UAE for his son.
鈥淗e鈥檚 spent a lot of time there lately, mostly playing golf, but there are no plans to move,鈥 he said. 鈥淗e knows all the golf courses there, but he鈥檚 staying in Norway.鈥
Nevertheless, Dubai鈥檚 imprint on Carlsen鈥檚 chess legacy is undeniable.
鈥淐hennai was his first World Championship match, but Dubai remains his last [as of now]. And in between, so many important things happened there,鈥 Henrik said. 鈥淔or Magnus, it may well be the most special place in the world.鈥
Elsewhere at Norway Chess, GM Anna Muzychuk claimed the women鈥檚 title, finishing ahead of China鈥檚 GM Lei Tingjie and India鈥檚 Koneru Humpy.
The tournament also marked a breakthrough moment for 15-year-old Emirati prodigy Rouda Al-Serkal, the UAE鈥檚 first Woman Grandmaster and a former world youth champion, who wrapped up her debut in the open category with three consecutive wins.
