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With the FIDE World Championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi around the corner it is time to know the reigning champion and the challenger a bit better. We present some interesting facts about Magnus and Ian below:
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- Learned to play chess when he was 5
- His peak rating is 2882
- Holds the record for the longest undefeated streak - 125 games, from 31 July 2018 to 10 October 2020
- Rated #1 in the world (classical chess) since July 2011
- Has won 12 World Championships (4 classical, 3 rapid and 5 blitz)
- Reached the top 100 when he was 15 years old
- Modelled for G-Star Raw alongside Liv Tyler
- Was a guest star in The Simpsons
- Dedicated fan of Real Madrid C.F.
- Was leading Premier League’s official Fantasy Football table
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- Learned to play chess when he was 4.5
- His peak rating is 2792
- His lifetime record vs. Magnus Carlsen in classical chess is +4 -1 =8
- Is a 2-time Russian champion
- European Individual Champion (2010)
- Graduated from the Russian State Social University majoring in journalism
- A proud owner of a cat and a dog
- Appeared in the Russian TV show “What? Where? When?”
- Devoted fan of Spartak Moscow
- Played DotA and Dota 2 at a competitive level
Official website of FIDE World Championship Dubai 2021
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