Henrik Carlsen - the man who created Magnus, the World Champion!

Today, Magnus Carlsen is one of the greatest champions that the game of chess has ever seen. But around 24 years ago, Carlsen was a little toddler who didn't know how the chess pieces moved. It was his father Henrik who introduced him to the game of chess. He taught him how the pieces moved, and remained by his side as he moved up his chess career to become an IM, then a GM and eventually the World Champion. Henrik stood by Magnus' side like a rock. A rock solid support.
Henrik Carlsen is a man who has seen the complete spectrum of how a talent develops into a strong player and from a strong player into the best in the world. When we requested him for an interview it was for a specific reason. We wanted to bring out his role as a father in Magnus' development, and how he tackled the different issues like sponsorship, handling the media, keeping his son's interest alive, coaching, manager, travelling to tournaments, how he managed his own job and much more.
It is a 35 minute interview that tells you what a life of a World Champion's father is like. We hope that you find this interview useful, and if you do, then do send in your message in the comments section below.
Video: Sagar Shah
#Chess #ChessBaseIndia #LindoresAbbeyChess2019
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[@juggernaut4799]

4:06 "Our role has not been to make him a star. But to not stop him from becoming a star if he wants to" Amazingly put. This here is a great man and father. He is kind of underplaying his role in Magnus' rise, but I think, just to be there for your son all the time and support him quietly is such a big thing. We will never be as good of a chess player as Magnus, but we can all aspire to be as good of a parent as Henrik Carlsen.

[@AcceleratorUlz]

Fantastic statement. Totally agree. He is definitely very humble.

[@AliyevRashad]

very well said!

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

Magnus’ father is very logical person and good father. He understood Magnus’ needs as a child and gave him the freedom to develop and improve.God bless this great father.

[@irgendwerjoker]

Yeah. The only part where he kinda failed him is teaching Magnus good manners.

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

Yes, but it is not his father’s fault. Magnus is like that by nature. Father tried his best.

[@inlovewithi]

Magnus seems to have very good manners from my point of view. A lot of polite smiles. In his online chess games seems to make sure he explains his opponents mistakes in a positive tone. Seems like an above average considerate person, who is also very logical, and thus deals with the reality of the moment. Compared to the more typical more in la la land, polite acting person. Those last two points being kind of difficult to explain, so it might get misconstrued.

[@irgendwerjoker]

@Georg Tolstoj You can still be angry about a loss, or a bad performance, but don't be a complete $$"§%"§$ to others. There are numerous examples where he flipped at press conferences (think Maurice Ashley). Reacting like that is unprofessional, and many other chess players manage to act professionally. Think Vishy.

[@irgendwerjoker]

@Georg Tolstoj you mean if I do something extremely stressfull with my mind, it's ok to be an a$$hole then afterwards?

[@SoumyaSwaminathan64]

Brilliant Interview ! Thanks to Henrik Carlsen for being so open towards your every question, and to you for asking these, Sagar !

[@kenvat6344]

I can already see where carlsen got his clarity from.

[@AbrEvig]

Wonderful interview!!! Great idea to bring this humble and so vice man in front of the camera. A lesson for parents of potensial geniuses.

[@morethanusuall]

that is one proud father whom I can be sure that he doesn't care about money, about fame, about even the game. he is just proud, a proud man. thank you Magnus for making your father proud.

[@sayan64]

29:04 magnus and his father has similar smiles

[@AngelSantos-kp1uj]

Maybe cause they are relatives?

[@sayan64]

@@AngelSantos-kp1uj I think so

[@SuperYtc1]

@@sayan64 You think so? Genius..

[@monishunni2788]

It must be a difficult interview for Henrik as it's a double edge sword for him to be interviewed about his son. There's a reason Henrik's has not given interviews like this. It's always a struggle what to say. So, well done, Sagar in conducting such a thoughtful interview and thank you Henrik for sharing your life as a father! You both rock!

[@boliussa]

What are you blabbering about. He was asked questions and he answered. Maybe you have nothing to say when asked a question but that's your problem

[@kirjian]

@@boliussa hey, nutsack, when you're interviewed in front of dozens of thousands of people representing the world champion and you don't choke it, *then* you can be pedantic about it

[@serenayeager3111]

How is double edge?

[@threethrushes]

Great interview. Good questions. Nothing but respect for Magnus' old man. Credit to Norway.

[@ankushs6448]

@Georg Tolstoj maybe he means Henrik, the man, is a credit to Norway.

[@SivaVisveswaran]

A fantastic interview by Sagar! Mr. Carlsen succinctly articulates the Scandinavian approach to parenting and education of children: encourage their passion, don't focus on results and keep obstacles out of their way.

[@manu-ox4fe]

Parents of poor kid see their children as a way out of poverty. Happens often in American football, Basket ball. etc. The advantage of Carlsen is that he was born in the best country in the world with a great level head parents and incredible talent for chess. Love the inteview

[@dayoldeggplant]

Doesn't matter about the country so mucb as the upbringing.

[@stianaslaksen5799]

Henrik Karlsen seems such a humble and wise person. Also, very nice interview.

[@Lotfi974]

Thanks the interviewer for this beautiful interview....what a good father ! Without him I'm sure Magnus would not be so stronger today....

[@keithwald5349]

The Carlsen clan really seem to have their heads together. Both father and son seem to be so thoughtful, deliberate, and balanced. Quite a family.

[@musicguitar]

I’m at the 12:59 mark and I can already say that this is an excellent interview! Just fascinating to hear Henrik’s perspective as a father to one of most brilliant minds of the modern era. Thank you for posting this.

[@welovechess9741]

What a beautiful interview ,i think you are the most efficient interviewer in the world.

[@navneet6724]

Great Interview! What a gentleman he is! The calmness of his man is truly amazing. The natural background is a bonus.

[@armenkhatchatrian8748]

excellent interview !

[@alephnull4044]

It's amazing how different the upbringings were of probably the greatest two chess players of all time, Carlsen and Fischer. Their childhoods really could not have been more different, to some extent also their attitudes and approach to chess, yet they both ended up as dominant champions.

[@ankushs6448]

i think what his father talks about shows what they have in common is adults minding their own business when it comes to their private passion. Fischer's mother tried to get strong players to meet with him but she didn't make too many demands on him. For example, Fischer quit school when he was 14. He would have needed parental permission to do that... he had won the US championship the same year so he got it.

[@thecityofjoy]

Interesting interview with Henrik Carlsen... Very wise and understanding man with open mind of the world and willing to share his knowledge ... Indians should aspire to be like him

[@threethrushes]

We all should take knowledge from wise people.

[@SuperYtc1]

'The man who created Magnus'. Literally.

[@foreverseethe]

The interviewer made the best of the opportunity and asked poignant, relevant, insightful, fantastic questions.

[@kinjalduttachoudhury7506]

I am here to recover after seeing the interview with Abhimanyu Mishra's father

[@neotrinity100]

I don't get it. Even for such a brilliant interview as this there are some jokers who have marked it thumbs down. Really? Is there a reason for thumbs down for even this?

[@AngelSantos-kp1uj]

Some people is just stupid

[@WorldCitizen333]

@@AngelSantos-kp1uj Some people surely is.

[@arvemikalnesvik3089]

Some people has the need to feel special. Doing the opposite of the majority gives them the feeling of uniqueness. Like flat earth believers etc

[@granitmani9513]

Some people tried to thumbs up but thumbs down instead by accident maybe? Since everyone doesnt use a mouse and keyboard. Eg this is very possible if you have larger than average hands are using a touchscreen phone (just a possibility)

[@granitmani9513]

34k views 13 dislikes i doubt these were intended

[@marsh7881]

What a father

[@faifai4]

What a role model.... I aspire to be like him next time!

[@SuperYtc1]

10:06 - 10:15 he sounds so like Magnus Carlsen here. Exactly the same accent and speed of talking.

[@chessgold8768]

best interview ever.... wow.... very good questions and great answers....

[@amitsalvi]

Great work guys. A very important video and great lessons for all parents. Thanks a lot!

[@arrowghost]

Damn, what a father he is to raise his son to become the world champion. I'm jealous of the both of them in a good way, having their child to become a chess genius is extraordinary.

[@JuanSLS]

Great! Thanks for sharing.

[@MagnusAnand]

Great interview!

[@intrametaarchi1015]

Great interview. Thanks.

[@yahyaichakdi1624]

so nice interview , we can learn alot from it , how parents sould treat there childerns

[@malegupta8404]

the inteivew has taken in very beautiful place i am very happy that for the frist time the sagar sir is taking interview of right person .thanks alot bahut sahi insaan ko pakda hai bhai tune

[@enzo0388]

The smiling is exactly the same :D

[@AliyevRashad]

Thanks for such a great interview. I am in the process of edifying and preparing myself for my 2,5-year-old, and this is invaluable for parents as myself. I have also watched and read some of your other materials, thanks for those as well. Keep up this wonderful work. Greetings from Azerbaijan!

[@kanishashah1348]

Wonderful interview!

[@i6g7f]

Wonderful interview- thank You to both of You!!:)

[@abstractlogic366]

No wonder Magnus became the best chess player in the world :) Big Heart Henrik!

[@PhilSkiboard]

Great interview, great questions to a great guy, good job chessbase india

[@EndoftheTownProductions]

What a great father!

[@morethanusuall]

and when I have a son who is good in chess, man you son is G.O.A.T

[@goldenhawx8652]

0:40 that smile reminds me of Magnus for some reason

[@x78340]

This guy is a class act. As the saying goes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, so I can see how Magnus got to be such a class act himself. Huge respect to both!

[@AbhishekVerma-wo1gm]

What an honest and frank set of responses, typical Scandinavian....difficult for the Indian interviewer to digest....! Coz even after he corrected the interviewer that he DID NOT create Magnus but supported his passion... @chessbaseIndia...stop putting clickbait captions...if content is good you will get the views..... dont be shallow guys....thats how most Indians are perceived to be internationally... be a good ambassador......

[@birdiecrain5416]

I mean he didn’t make him into a chess phenomenon but he literally did create Magnus Carlsen lol. Or at least, half of him.

[@bhanupartapsingh8903]

Gentleman father of gentleman

[@TOI-700]

Thank you Sagar bhai for great interview 👍

[@EGC316]

Very wise words

[@Flickit100]

People don't quite grasp the extreme stress of international competition. The long hours and the media attention with crazy questions. Thsts what makes Magnus seem rude at times. It's the pressure.

[@kinnaribhatt9566]

He has a very pleasant personality.

[@exasperatedfarrago2444]

1:08 Like father like son

[@AdityaPal_sciencepal]

This is a parenting masterclass. Good job CBI.

[@donh3590]

dad looks like a math teacher. wccmc looks like a linebacker

[@mikecantreed]

He looks like a CEO to me

[@pinkopalinko2881]

Fantastic father !

[@muri5887]

very cool and smart man.

[@fxprocc]

and this is why Magnus is so good. His roots are good.

[@nbagamer5781]

What a gentleman

[@dparamful]

Sahar, You shouldn't ask children like Nivaan his rating. YOU are media. Praise his passion, not results. Listen to this guy.

[@SurenAghabekyan]

... "created Magnus, the World Champion"... as if we are speaking about a machine! But maybe Carlsen is a machine? Who knows...

[@tatetadeng9616]

Chess with Suren hello suren...

[@gaurishbaliga3723]

Nice to see that you watch this channel

[@leadnitrate2194]

The OG of KZbin chess along with Jerru

[@commercialandresidentialpl7337]

When i grow up i want to become Henrik Carlsen.

[@BharathBhushan13]

👏👏👏

[@fares1443]

He didnt create hime he just didnt prevent him from creating himself

[@SuperYtc1]

This is the key to good parenting.

[@antonyosifov466]

Great person

[@sudeeptripathi2917]

Love you Maggie carslen

[@shoppinghemifran6001]

Wow, he is so Scandinavian.

[@nesapriyannesapriyan1769]

Good father

[@dragandraganic4178]

The most important thing in a Ca success was expirience from the past life.

[@HunterBelkiran]

i love this man

[@rainmolderkivi2263]

Very nice video how to make your son prodigy and give some hindsight to the learning process

[@TOI-700]

Chess unites intelligent and quality people.❤️

[@arun-it9gr]

Tell that to Karpov and Korchnoi lol

[@NARAYANNE007]

Great

[@sayan64]

Magnus vs Vladmirov plz show

[@shoppinghemifran6001]

“Chess is probably his main interest”

[@tatetadeng9616]

what a supportive father??

[@AcceleratorUlz]

What a useless comment?

[@EPSTomcat11]

Excellent interview - thank you both! And just in time for Father's Day coming up soon :)

[@thenatsthought399]

Both of them should sit. I am tired for them. Btw, good interview.

[@AMReyVenz]

Im sure many would love to hear from Magnus' Mother, as well. Assuming of course, that she would be willing. I dont know anything about her, and, before this video, I could say the same about Henrik. Id love to hear her perspective on the same/similar questions. Im sure many female chess players/viewers would agree! :) Great Videos!

[@tenningale]

Hope his son can go pro one day

[@DaanHeijnis]

Can I have him as my dad?

[@gaurav0883]

Tips from henrik carlsen on how to make super smart babies

[@JMS1089]

17:56, 18:35, 18:50

[@akhileshshukla8454]

How great my parents will never agree to home school me they just want to focus on study

[@darwinudtuhan1762]

He is like laslo polgar.

[@ankushs6448]

Wow! Sagar, you sneaked him out to a sunny spot in the trees and started the interview with birds chirping, then held him right there as a rainstorm passed through and didn't let him leave until it was sunny again. Hi-5, you sadistic journalist. But this was wonderful, I listened to the entire thing and it was fascinating to hear his stories of fatherhood. Or I should say his interest carried over as he spoke, clearly he was meant to be a father. Of course, the entire conversation demonstrates that he flatly refuses the title you bestowed... he didn't 'create Magnus', he let Magnus create himself.

[@fares1443]

the title of the video have nothing to do with what hes saying its the opposite man

[@vikramsrinivasan8176]

Only chess base can do such videos 👏 East or West India is the Best 👍

[@malegupta8404]

carlsen jyada ni bolta kuch batata ni hai this is rigth person

[@BenNCM]

At least get the man's name right!!! His name is Henrik, NOT Hendrik!!! I don't understand why so many people are so lazy in even the basic areas of competence.

[@Gitsos_IV]

Where you in "what indians think about pew die pie vs T series" video?

[@tomgoldrunbyabhinav9978]

did Magnus Carlsen see tis video??

[@anantgaonkar941]

I think he is just trying to belittle the whole thing 😂 what do you want him to do?

[@pgcnrctt5325]

he make a monster :))) but i think he now retired on chess?

[@Itjustbegan]

:CWL

[@Filemonefly9]

Everyone! Type "Spingfeeeel" into the search box. And enter the Dragon. Thank me later.

[@Rocket-qg5jw]

He is probably a very strict parent otherwise Magnus wouldnt be GM aged 11

[@FutureAbe]

I AM APU THANK YOU COME AGAIN

[@tommypedersen7374]

Fornuftig mand.

[@1petrutu]

What tips? Best tips to improve chess is to check best moves with the engine and do it yourself... All this read books and learn from small kid nonsense doesnt fool me anymore. Magnus has friends who are calculating best moves and chess engine novelties for him but on kasparov time there was no engines so you had to use your mind and do puzzles rather than lazy kids nowadays who just needs to open up a program.

[@Krakatit30]

That's actually one of the worst tips I have ever heard - check best moves with an engine and do it yourself :)) if it would have been that simple, we would have people playing at Magnus' level everywhere as strongest chess engines are available for free. You can try it, get some chess engines, get some friends to help you check moves, go play with some really strong player and see how far will you go. Chess engines have a different approach to chess as compared to humans so trying to reproduce computer moves is not a viable strategy if you're not a computer. An engine can help you a lot if you use it correctly (which is not the way you mentioned it). Also, comparing Magnus with Kasparov is quite tricky. They have very different chess styles and personalities. Ok, Magnus now has tools that Kasparov did not have. But is also true that Magnus is facing much stronger opposition as compared to Kasparov (probably because his opposition has access to those tools also, so everybody got better, not only Magnus). Therefore I would not say it's easier for Magnus and it was more difficult for Kasparov.

[@1petrutu]

@@Krakatit30We will have people playing at magnus level? Are you comparing Magnus with top level engine where people needs to do only best moves to be at his level? I think you praising magnus too high.

[@Krakatit30]

@@1petrutu Well basically you said that, not me. You said that Magnus has friends who are calculating best moves and novelties based on chess engines. Maybe I didn't not make myself clear, sorry about that, but what I wanted to say is that this is not enough to get to his level. Of course Magnus like everybody is using engines, but I assure you it's not that simple. Magnus is no match for a top engine, he admitted that himself. Or course, Magnus has a very high percentage of computer moves (if I am not mistaken, he was actually the top of the list in the last study that I have read). This means he plays a lot of moves a computer would play in the same position. But this is also tricky because I don't think a computer would go for the same position in the first place. In fact, I think Magnus' style differs A LOT as compared to the way a computer plays.

[@shredder5214]

Very critical Great interview I loved it but Jeeeeez buddy said “very critical “ so many times it really did a disservice to how intelligent his vocabulary comes off . Like he makes himself seem like he read the book “basic English for dummies “ god damn that shit is fucking annoying , it’s just very critical for him to learn some more English words and phrases.

[@TheGPel]

I dont like MAgnus walking with his dad all the time, its like he is a 4 year old.

[@Entropy__]

how do you walk with your dad????