Athletistic / Chess. The president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Arkady Dvorkovich, referred to recent remarks by world champion Magnus Carlsen. Earlier, the Norwegian said he could refuse to participate in the World Chess Crown match. According to Carlsen, he is only ready to play if his opponent is Alireza Firouzja, a Frenchman of Iranian descent. He has already lost his chances of winning the Candidates Tournament – 2022.

“Magnus Carlsen was careful in his choice of words. He said ‘at this time, my feelings’, which is to say he did not officially decline. He expressed the view that the match against a representative of the new generation would give him the challenge he needed. The champion will play another match, trying to defend his crown,” Dvorkovich told TASS.