72 Quotes by Magnus Carlsen

I can’t count the times I have lagged seemingly hopelessly far behind, and nobody except myself thinks I can win. But I have pulled myself in from desperate [situations]. When you are behind there are two strategies - counter-attack or all men to the defences. I’m good at finding the right balance between those.

I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.

I really enjoy the experience of playing humans. The psychological game is so much more important.

I feel sorry for players who are always lying awake at night, brooding over their games.

For me right now I think being the world number one is a bigger deal than being the world champion because I think it shows better who plays the best chess. That sounds self-serving but I think it's also right.

I played like a child.

Unfortunately I'm still not a fashion expert.

I don't consider myself a particularly young chess player. I have been playing in the best tournaments in the world since I was 16 years old. In other sports, if you have been playing for seven years, you are not a young prodigy any more. You're one of the pros.

Contrary to many young Colleagues, I do believe that it makes sense to study the Classics.