The Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen and the Match That Made Chess Great Again
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Equally a player of chess, I can't aid myself when I encounter a book about chess. I take to read it. Sometimes, the results are awesome, like David Shenk's THE IMMORTAL GAME. Other times, the results are disappointing, like QUEEN OF KATWE. I'm sorry to say that despite its intriguing cover fine art, THE GRANDMASTER falls into the latter group. I read this book and was very disappointed.
The first alarm sign comes at the outset, with a random tange
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Every bit a histrion of chess, I can't help myself when I meet a book about chess. I have to read it. Sometimes, the results are awesome, like David Shenk'south THE IMMORTAL GAME. Other times, the results are disappointing, like QUEEN OF KATWE. I'g pitiful to say that despite its intriguing cover fine art, THE GRANDMASTER falls into the latter group. I read this volume and was very disappointed.
The kickoff warning sign comes at the kickoff, with a random tangent about Donald Trump. I guess considering Carlsen's match confronting Karjakin was overshadowed past protests confronting Trump'due south election and plain Carlsen is a fan of Trump. Co-ordinate to this book, Carlsen likes him because, like him, Trump is skilful at finding people's weaknesses (ick). In fact, to cheekily prove his support of that orange rat fink SOB, he played the Trompowsky Attack as a prove of solidarity. How adorable.
Aside from turning me off Magnus Carlsen completely, this book failed to provide much insight into Carlsen or his games because the author keeps going on tangents. Tangents that aren't necessarily accurate. For example, he talks about how poorly compensated chess players are, but with things like Twitch (online streaming site for games, popular with online chess sites similar chess.com or lichess.org) and the rise of influencer culture, I'1000 non sure that's truthful anymore. With social media being what it is, it is much, much easier for those in niche areas to accomplish out to like-minded fans.
2d, the author says that in order to empathize Magnus Carlsen, it'due south important to research Bobby Fischer, so goes on a tangent about chess and mental illness. Which, again, had me giving this book the ol' side-heart because i) apart from existence jerks who evidently like making their opponents squirm, Fischer and Carlsen actually don't seem to have that much in mutual. They are two very dissimilar people coming from ii very different walks of life. And 2) correlation does not testify causation. One time you lot get into whatsoever highly competitive loonshit of hobbies or sports, you're going to observe dysfunctional people who take their obsession too far. That does not mean that the thing in question is responsible for these behaviors; it'due south self-selection on the office of the people focused on these activities.
Third, several times the author mentions the lack of women in chess, and seems focused especially on Judit Polgar. It's truthful that Judit Polgar has the highest height rating of any woman, but she is by no means the only female person grandmaster out at that place, nor is she the only recently agile one. In fact, she's no longer even the youngest female grandmaster; that honour now goes to China's Hou Yifan.
Fourth, the author seems to think that Carlsen is special because he hobnobs with celebrities and - gasp - has a six-pack. A chess-player who isn't a full uggo? What a stupor! I find that incredibly rude, like the author is buying into the "chess players are socially dysfunctional freaks" stereotype, particularly with the focus on chess as existence related to or causing mental illness portion of the book. I, I find it insulting that Carlsen deserves more recognition simply considering he's done modeling - and even if that were the case (which it's not), 2, he's non the just i. Alexandra Kosteniuk, for example, is a female grandmaster and a model (and one of my personal favorite chess players).
5th, when giving a cursory groundwork on Carlsen and where he comes from, Butler talks about how the town Carlsen comes from is (in)famous for two things: a Medieval festival and a concentration camp that was entirely Norwegian-owned and operated. That kind of made me feel icky inside, considering I know a lot of people from Europe feel terribly about WWII, and putting this odd and irrelevant fact in the volume felt (ane) like padding and (2) kind of insensitive and disrespectful.
This volume was kind of all over the place and wasn't very helpful. I'm guessing it was rushed to the press so its release appointment would coincide with Caruana and Carlsen's current lucifer in the World Chess Championship games (happening right now - literally all anyone is talking about on lichess at the moment). That was a clever marketing motion, but THE GRANDMASTER itself is anything but.
Thanks to Netgalley/the publisher for the review copy!
1.v stars
...more than
Unfortunately, this is a mag article artificially inflated into a book-length project. I endeavour not to review books by maxim "this book is X, not Y," and i
An account of the much-predictable 2016 championship friction match betwixt enigmatic grandmaster Magnus Carlsen and Russia'south Sergey Karjakin past a sportswriter more used to covering boxing matches. Against a properties of the Trump dark horse seizure of the presidency, the two players play draw after draw until they are mentally and physically spent.Unfortunately, this is a magazine article artificially inflated into a book-length project. I try not to review books past maxim "this book is 10, non Y," and instead enjoy them equally whatever X they are, but this book is not near the championship. We hear a bully deal almost the writer's family history, from fleeing to Hungary as penniless immigrants to drunken abusive uncles, with miscarriages, alcoholism, and attempted suicide to clothes information technology upwards. There'southward a long chapter about artificial intelligence and Deep Blue's friction match with Kasparov and the rise of reckoner chess and how cold, bloodless, and uninteresting it is. Just we are non reading well-nigh figurer chess. Is this necessary? Then there's a bully deal about Bobby Fisher, ostensibly because Magnus may take the seeds of another prodigy whose single-minded obsession devolves into mad, paranoid isolation. Just there's not a trace of show for this parallel; indeed, there'due south very petty about Magnus at all other than some bare biographical data. We hear nearly chess fan Stanley Kubrick, photographer Harry Benson who took celebrated photos of Fisher, and other prodigies. There'south information on Paul Morphy, the 19th century prodigy; chess clubs in New York Urban center in the 19th century, through the low, the '50s, and onward. Peter Winston, chess main who disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Judit Polgar. Women in chess in general. Possibly the crazy prodigies might accept some preliminary connection or even hypothetical connectedness to Magnus, but what does Polgar have to practise with information technology? There's more: How the author came to play chess in Cuba. Chess in Cuba. The picture Searching for Bobby Fischer and the character'southward real life inspiration. Equally to the prose way, it'due south decent. But to add more padding, every time the author inserts himself into an interview, information technology is to add absolutely nothing of value to the conversation. He will repeat what someone said or re-phrase it in a sure manner, and his bailiwick will repeat what he says. Almost ane/6 of the book describes the events of the match. This book is about chess, just not the chess friction match. Then I was disappointed.
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Instead, he wrote a book that serves to ostend outdated stereotypes of chess.
Karjakin reached out over the board and bent
Butler's coverage of the actual friction match was quite thin. There is more proper noun dropping than chess talk which was a major thwarting to me. I was expecting this to have actual details of Whatever the games played between Carlsen and Karjakin, merely content of the games between the 2 were breezed over with vague discussion virtually chess, yet included ridiculous descriptions nigh the competitors body linguistic communication and giant leaps on how everything was Fischeresque.Karjakin reached out over the board and aptitude his wrists to lower his frail hands over his white pieces with his fingers pressed together, resembling a pelican'due south bill bobbing at fish, equally he went later on each of their heads.
I mean, really. WTF am I reading? Is this a book nearly chess or something fished out of the wastebasket discarded by Nora Roberts?
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Such a riveting journey into the madness of the chess world and an try to come to terms with the fine line betwixt genius and insanity.
Some truly incredible stories within the story and well worth a read.
ii.5 out of five stars
As with any nonfiction book, I honor points if I learned something, and I certainly learned a few things from this volume (mostly unverified anecdotes about chess history, for which no citations or sources were provided). I also gave a point or 2 for the author'due south expert descriptions of the scene of the 2016 Earth Chess Championship — and of the players (their body language, expressions, and so on). For those parts and others, it was like shooting fish in a barrel to imagine oneself on the scene.
Just, wow
2.five out of 5 stars
Equally with any nonfiction volume, I award points if I learned something, and I certainly learned a few things from this book (mostly unverified anecdotes about chess history, for which no citations or sources were provided). I also gave a indicate or ii for the author's expert descriptions of the scene of the 2016 World Chess Championship — and of the players (their body language, expressions, and then on). For those parts and others, it was easy to imagine oneself on the scene.
But, wow, was this writer all over the place. The first really startling moment was on page 6 when he suddenly interrupts his introduction of the Big Friction match to wonder "What the hell was I doing there?" So the author takes united states of america on a journeying through his *ain* history with chess and a drunk Hungarian uncle and rooftop chess games in Cuba, and... A bunch of stuff not related at all to the 2016 tournament. (There are as well chapters on Judit Polgar'due south groundwork, why Josh Waitzkin quit chess, and how Pete Winston disappeared — once again, none of them related in any way to the topic at hand.)
And of grade the subtitle is a poor try to link the match to the quondam president's campaign slogan — the title is simply as meaningless as the slogan. Chess hadn't get somehow ungreat before this, nor did this match change chess in whatever cardinal way.
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I picked this upwardly considering I know the author's brother, and because it was recently shortlisted past Margaret Atwood. What a surprise when I learned it was non-fiction, about a chess tournament. But it'due south really about everything else - travel, family, politics, the human condition, sports. Tin can't recommend it highly plenty. "...Everything you never imagined yous wanted to know about chess" says Kirkus Reviews, and how right that is.
I picked this upward because I know the author'due south brother, and because it was recently shortlisted by Margaret Atwood. What a surprise when I learned it was non-fiction, about a chess tournament. But it'southward really about everything else - travel, family, politics, the human being condition, sports. Tin can't recommend information technology highly enough. ...more than
"Chess is everything: art, science and sport." – Anatoly Karpov
The game of chess is one with an ancient history. The game has been played for hundreds of years past millions of people from all corners of the globe. It is buoyed by its universality and its bones meritocratic structure – the more skilled player almost always wins.
You lot would recollect such a game would have deep appeal to the American psyche. That isn't the case, nevertheless – not since the too-brief exercise
https://www.themaineedge.com/sports/t..."Chess is everything: art, science and sport." – Anatoly Karpov
The game of chess is one with an ancient history. The game has been played for hundreds of years past millions of people from all corners of the globe. Information technology is buoyed by its universality and its bones meritocratic structure – the more skilled thespian virtually always wins.
You would think such a game would have deep appeal to the American psyche. That isn't the instance, however – not since the too-brief domination of the globe phase past Bobby Fischer dorsum in the 1970s has the U.s.a. paid much attention to the game.
But when the World Chess Championship landed in New York Metropolis in 2016, Brin-Jonathan Butler was in that location for it. His relate of that battle between Norwegian wunderkind Magnus Carlsen and Russian Sergey Karjakin - the first WCC contested on American soil in two decades - is titled "The Grandmaster: Magnus Carlsen and the Match That Made Chess Smashing Over again."
It's an insider's look at a match that was considered most a foregone determination at the onset before turning into a boxing for the ages featuring ane of the greatest finishes in chess history. Information technology is also an examination of the history of the game as well every bit the state of chess today, both here and away.
It was the first week of November in 2016. The recent Presidential election had New York City in tumult. Only at the city's Southward Street Seaport, a unlike kind of free energy was bubbling. For the start time since 1995, the title of the chess globe was going to be decided in the U.s.a..
On ane side was the Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, the reigning world champion. Carlsen was viewed every bit a potential breakout star, a player who could serve as a face of the game. On the other was Sergey Karjakin, a Russian whose star power didn't friction match Carlsen's, but whose tenacious game and competitive streak earned him a spot at the tabular array.
Both men were elite competitors, simply Carlsen was expected to triumph without much difficulty. What happened instead was a hard-fought, grueling match – i that made it all the way to sudden decease.
Aslope his tension-soaked recounting of the title faceoff, Butler spends time investigating the game itself. We learn about its history in the United States in general and in New York City in particular. The role of computers in the game - from the first rudimentary programs to the supercomputer Deep Bluish to the unbeatable chess simulators of today - is investigated. Butler speaks to people who orbit in various chess circles – chess order owners and hustlers alike. He explores the human relationship that certain famous figures had with the game – the esteem information technology held in the eyes of notables like Stanley Kubrick and Humphrey Bogart.
And looming over information technology all is the shadow of Bobby Fischer.
No conversation about chess in America is complete without acknowledging the legacy of the state'southward greatest player. Whether discussing Fischer's meteoric rise, his turmoil-filled heyday or his tragic and precipitous decline, the male child from Brooklyn's influence on the game cannot be overstated. He was this land'south giant, a de facto Common cold State of war weapon under unspeakable pressure level who somewhen (some would say inevitably) cracked.
Brin-Jonathan Butler made his bones as a boxing author, producing pugilistic prose biographical and autobiographical alike. He has written about Cuban legends similar Guillermo Rigondeaux and American icons like Mike Tyson. If it sounds similar he has a chip of Hemingway about him, well, his 2015 memoir "The Domino Diaries" is subtitled "My Decade Boxing with Olympic Champions and Chasing Hemingway's Ghost in the Last Days of Castro'south Cuba," so yeah – in that location'south plenty of Papa here.
What seems on the surface to exist an odd fit is actually ideal when y'all call up about it. While chess is a cerebral do and boxing is a physical one, the 2 share common ground. In that location's the visceral, man-to-homo nature of both; at their core, both are contests of will. Both are nearly exerting your strength over your opponent. Both necessitate strategies far beyond what the layperson observes upon the surface. And both are extremely difficult to primary at the highest level.
What Butler does so magnificently in "The Grandmaster" is capture the intensity inherent to high-level competition. Just considering Carlsen and Karjakin don't physically come to blows doesn't hateful that brutality is absent. Chess of this magnitude is as combative as any other competitive endeavour; in that location's a reason that chess is so often utilized as an analog for warfare.
"The Grandmaster" is compelling reading, both in terms of the depth of its subject matter and the spare muscularity of its prose. It is both paean and exposé, a both-sides deep dive into a earth that not many truly understand. While the chessboard might just exist in black and white, Butler's book offers up unexpected shades of gray.
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Admittedly, I'thousand a huge fan of Butler's work. I initially fell in love with his writing mode and cute use of words when reading "A Cuban Boxer's Journey," and became enamored with the thought of visiting Cuba after finishing "The Domino Diaries." That existence said, fifty-fifty *I* felt trepidation when I learned a couple of years ago that he was working on a book nigh chess.
Chess? Ugh, sounds boring.
If it's not abundantly clear by this p
I'll start with the TL;DR: Y'all should definitely read this book.Admittedly, I'm a huge fan of Butler'due south work. I initially fell in honey with his writing mode and beautiful employ of words when reading "A Cuban Boxer's Journey," and became enamored with the idea of visiting Republic of cuba after finishing "The Domino Diaries." That being said, fifty-fifty *I* felt trepidation when I learned a couple of years ago that he was working on a book nigh chess.
Chess? Ugh, sounds boring.
If information technology'southward not abundantly articulate past this betoken, I'm non a chess histrion. As a matter of fact, people take stopped trying to teach me how to play chess. But after reading this book I'm excited most learning once more. Butler writes about chess in such a beautiful and humorous style then as to engage even the well-nigh chess-illiterate.
I had a great fourth dimension reading near all of the different characters in chess as well as the historical background that Butler provided. It'south true that the book lacked wall-to-wall coverage of the bodily friction match, but there are chess websites and publications for that. And the weaving in of the political events at that time provided a backdrop for comparisons that Butler executed with genius.
I couldn't put this book down and when I had to I was sad. And not only that, information technology actually got me excited about CHESS, of all things.
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And so in that location was the book's subtitle. Sure there was some hype about the Championship and it seemed aimed at an attempt to "make chess keen again," but not much of the text was devoted to the marketing that was put into promoting the match. Did anything actually come up of that effort? Aught mentioned in the volume past the outcome of the match. Since I didn't even know this match was going on at the time and x of the 12 regular games ended in draws, I think the subtitle should exist "...the Friction match That Could Have Made Chess Great Again."
Well-written, but not for those that have played chess for whatsoever length of time.
...more than However, had the challenger been able tp hold onto to hello
For the record: In 2016, I attended matches 2 and iv between Magnus and Sergey in New York city. I hardly would depict it as "the Friction match that Made CHESS Corking Once more" (re. the writer'south reference to the 1971 World Chess Championship match, when Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky (televised by PBS, with Shelby Lyman every bit the host). When they played, Sergey wasn't considered to be the best candidate to play for a earth chess title.Yet, had the challenger been able tp hold onto to his ane game lead, the match could very well have concluded up a total flop.
But, the author has an excellent point. Why in a sport that 600 million people play, isn't the name Magnus Carlson as recognizable every bit professional soccer, lawn tennis or golf players? Or, more than appropriately as marketable?
Marketability aside, How is it that one person can totally dominate a game for and so long?
Note: I also attended matches 2 and iii of the 2018 World Title, in London which were won by Magnus when he defeated Caruana Fabiano. A far more worthy opponent. As and then theoretically was, Ian Nepomniachtchi. In the December 2021 World Championship match in Dubai had disastrous results for Ian,
And, lastly, will the full-bodied effort to improve over long periods of time lead to an inevitable mental breakdown?
Good questions and this is a very good book for chess fans everywhere.
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This is not a book most Magnus Carlsen or the 2016 FIDE Championship. Information technology's about 1 sport journalists first introduction into the globe of professional chess. For a sport journalist, the author is apparently biased confronting chess. For example, he seems incredulous and disturbed that the best chess players in the world desire to boss and humiliate their opposition. This is the aforementioned author who brags about interviewing Mike Tyson. What did he expect from the best of a competition? I wouldn't say chess is a sport but it is a contest and those who are the all-time in whatsoever competition want to dominate others, it's not some revelation.
The balance of the book is occupied with the strange characters of chess, Brin-Jontathan Butler meets many interesting people and while those are enlightening, it'southward not really what I wanted from this volume. There are a lot of proficient things in this book, but like a lot of sport journalists turned authors, it's chaotic, disordered, and not structured in a peachy way.
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It's a short easy volume but not an amazing one. Offset of all it is a story more than about a guy and his writings about chess, not well-nigh chess. There is some chess stories in the volume but very surface level and not in depth. All the book is about is the writer inserting stories of himself with a little chip of chess, unneeded political opinions/anecdotes, and a jumbled mess of ideas. For example in chapter ii, the name is "The Prodigies" and it isn't all about the prodigie Made MY ACCOUNT BC OF THIS BOOK
It'south a brusque piece of cake book but non an astonishing i. Commencement of all it is a story more most a guy and his writings nigh chess, not nigh chess. There is some chess stories in the volume merely very surface level and non in depth. All the volume is about is the author inserting stories of himself with a petty scrap of chess, unneeded political opinions/anecdotes, and a jumbled mess of ideas. For example in affiliate 2, the name is "The Prodigies" and it isn't all about the prodigies. I can understand the history backside Carlsen and his competitor and the lead upwards to the 2016 world championship (which the book is about) but about 5 pages into the 20ish page long chapter it just diverges. Information technology talks well-nigh Kasparov and AI chess. It'due south cool but information technology should not exist in this chapter IMO. His writing in this book is inconsistent and sometimes not on topic. He writes virtually Trump and makes analogies which are unneeded, like how Russia interfered with the 2016 ballot, it is just unneeded in a book almost the 2016 globe championship. I'm sorry this is supposed to be a book about chess and the 2016 world title game, not a jumbled mess of ideas. I judge it's alright if that'southward what you're into but if you're looking into a expert chess book nigh this event at that place is many other books likely nearly the match. Read those Instead. ...more
The book perpetuates the myth common in the westward that chess players are eccentric or crazy. It is strange how I take read no popul
It seemed to me that I had already read this book several times in the past. The problem is that it repeats the same tired old "legends" almost certain famous players and many of these have been proven to be wrong or extremely questionable. That would be fine if the author would at least comment on the doubtful provenance. (Run across http://www.chesshistory.com/wintertime/ex...)The volume perpetuates the myth common in the west that chess players are eccentric or crazy. Information technology is strange how I have read no popular books about well adjusted chess players. However, I guess that would get in the manner of a good story.
If yous are non familiar with the chess world and so y'all may discover this volume to exist interesting, just exist aware that it is not well researched.
There are a few interesting parts where the author comments on the differences and similarities between chess and other sports (boxing and bull fighting). In particular, I liked the last two pages.
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I thought it would requite more insight on Carlsen and his private life, but instead it was all over the place comparing him to chess prodigies and chess players who were eccentric or obviously crazy, as if somehow the about interesting thing about
Chess is intrinsically interesting, at to the lowest degree for me, but this book was not actually an enjoyable listen. It was not awfully written but it was obvious that the writer was out of his depth and the game analysis of the tournament in question was very superficial.I thought it would give more than insight on Carlsen and his private life, but instead it was all over the identify comparing him to chess prodigies and chess players who were eccentric or plain crazy, every bit if somehow the most interesting thing virtually what he does for a living is that it volition probably bulldoze him mad.
...more Butler makes odd hyperbolic claims. The bland draw filled Carlsen-Sergey Karjakin mat For a book most World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen and his 2016 championship consolidation, writer Brin-Jonathan Butler provides scant information or insight into Carlsen. The volume is more Butler's stream of consciousness reflections on Donald Trump, Paul Morphy, Bobby Fischer, and chess hustlers in Washington Square. We besides get too many of Butler's thoughts and opinions about his own life and banal mundane matters.
Butler makes odd hyperbolic claims. The bland depict filled Carlsen-Sergey Karjakin match hardly "fabricated chess corking again." Also, Carlsen'southward narrow victory did not "cement Carlsen's status equally the greatest thespian always." Carlsen reigns more than as a starting time amidst equals, narrowly surviving long evenly balanced matches. Carlsen'due south boring super-sophisticated hypermodern prophylactic style leads to endless draws or interminable endgames.
Of course, the gifted Carlsen may one twenty-four hours reach the all-time elite stratum accomplished by Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Bobby Fischer, Jose Raoul Capablanca. Carlsen rarely loses a game while regularly engaging the globe's top grandmasters. His blitz and quick game skills are maybe only matched past Viswanathan Anand or Hikaru Nakamura. We could take used more focus on Carlsen than on Butler the journalist. ...more than
I've previously read another volume by this author, "The Domino Diaries" and really enjoyed it. So, why non requite it a chance?
This volume is a quick read that covers the world championship friction match in 2016. It alternates between interviewing attendees of the lucifer and talking virtually the some of the famous (and not so famous) names of modern chess hi
I picked this up after we finished watching "The Queen'due south Gambit" on Netflix (I wish I had read the book!) and needed something to scratch an crawling nearly chess.I've previously read another book by this writer, "The Domino Diaries" and really enjoyed it. So, why non give information technology a chance?
This book is a quick read that covers the world title match in 2016. It alternates between interviewing attendees of the match and talking about the some of the famous (and not then famous) names of modern chess history.
While the 2016 match between Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin was apparently dramatic, taking place over iii weeks or and so, the account written in the volume was pretty dry. I felt like I needed a board or to watch some YouTube videos of the match to follow along and properly understand the drama.
My mind at least, had a hard time visualizing what was going on. There were some interesting side stories and anecdotes that were covered within the book, only the whole matter felt dry and uninspiring to me.
...more In addition, I fail to understand why a book on chess needs to have one-half a dozen F bombs. It's nearly like the author feels that he's going to bring some street CRED to chess by throwing in some foul language. I'chiliad glad my children weren't around while I was listening to this.
...more than
Out of the 3 questions that the author set out the reply with this book, he seems to be very preoccupied with the terminal one: will Magnus be able the avoid the self-destructive fates of the greats before him similar Fischer and Morphy. Brin wants desperately for the answer the be "no", and when you stare into the abyss for besides long, the abyss stares back. ...more than
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