World chess champion Magnus Carlsen resigns.
The Norwegian is giving up his title and will not defend it in spring 2023 as planned.
"I lack the motivation for another title fight," said the 31-year-old in a video podcast published by his sponsor on Wednesday.
However, Carlsen wants to continue his chess career and has not ruled out a World Championship comeback at a later date.
Among other things, he will represent his home country at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, this year.
After his most recent successful title defense in December 2021 against Jan Nepomnjaschtschi from Russia, he had indicated that he only wanted to compete in the World Cup duel again if the French-Iranian talent Alireza Firouzja won the Candidates Tournament.
There, however, Nepomnjaschchi emerged victorious, who is now to fight against the second-placed Chinese Ding Liren for the world championship crown in the game of kings.
Carlsen also reported that he was recently in Madrid for talks with the world chess association Fide.
He came without demands or suggestions, but to communicate his renunciation.
"We had a little discussion.
You made a few suggestions.
I liked some, I didn't like others.
But my decision stands,” emphasized Carlsen.
He had been thinking about this for a year and a half.
Carlsen won this against Viswanathan Anand in 2013 and successfully defended it for the first time against the Indian the following year.
In 2016 he defeated Sergej Karjakin (Russia), in 2018 the American Fabiano Caruana.