Smart moves. Magnus carlsen - The world’s best chess player

At the age of only 19, Magnus Carlsen from Norway became the world’s best chess player. In 2004, he was the youngest player to be awarded the title of Grandmaster (GM). In 2011, he received the “Peer Gynt Award”, a distinction conferred by the Norwegian Parliament. The journalist and writer Hallgeir Opedal has followed him for a year, using flashbacks to trace his young but unique life from infant prodigy to present-day fame. In the book, the young chess player’s life is described from marathon chess tournaments in sweaty gymnasiums in Norway to the catwalk in New York. And in particular, tournaments from Norway to Berlin, London, Monaco, Wijk aan Zee and New York.

This is a story of money, sponsors, tactics, a power struggle, quarrels and politics, of highs and lows, and of the difficult collaboration with the chess legend Garry Kasparov. But it is also a book about chess and chess history.

Kagge Forlag 2011
318 Pages

English sample translation and synopsis available