Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen: The Freestylist

Magnus Carlsen strolls across the parking lot of Millerntor Stadium in Hamburg as the journalists scurry into hiding. No questions are allowed.

DER SPIEGEL 16/2025

The article you are reading originally appeared in German in issue 16/2025 (April 12th, 2025) of DER SPIEGEL.

SPIEGEL International

This Monday in mid-January marks the first time that the world’s top-ranked player has competed for FC St. As if the superstar of the chess world were a skittish doe that would take flight at the slightest rustle.

Carlsen has been promised that no journalists will be on site, say the organizers of a meet and greet. Read more about it here.