Same for Fischer in 1974.
Chess is bigger than its champions, and champions don't duck.
Carlsen said he *might* not defend his title. FIDE should require him to commit to defending it, on their terms, or to face financial penalty if he doesn't. If he doesn't agree to that, just take his title away and let him start over when he decides chess is worth his oh so precious time.
The Candidates tournament is next month. If Carlsen refuses to play the winner of the tournament, I would assume FIDE would just give the title to the challenger.
@Frogster64 said in #2:
> The Candidates tournament is next month. If Carlsen refuses to play the winner of the tournament, I would assume FIDE would just give the title to the challenger.
I'm saying they shouldn't even wait.
You would be a very good tyran!
i think if carlsen refuses to play they will just have the two highest people in the candidates tournament standings play against each other
All the hate and trolling aside, if Carlsen does indeed refuse to play the match but continues to be active as a chess player, it will be a huge blow to the prestige of the title. The WC title is the holy grail of chess, only 16 people have ever had it, with so many extremely strong players desperately trying but never getting it. And now the world's strongest player won't even try to hold on to it. At least Fischer had decency to stop playing competitive chess altogether.
This is quite unprecedented. I understand that it is his life and it is a free world, but certain things are just bigger than you. If you do not want to defend your title, fine, but just retire then. Do not keep being the world's number one while someone else holds the title without defeating you. It will hugely devalue it. We already had FIDE doing it in the 90's. Not again, please.
