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I respect Henrik immensely for the simple fact that he prizes his son’s happiness and comfort over everything else. It’s Magnus’ life, and Henrik doesn’t claim ownership of it whatsoever.

Magnus Carlsen is what happens when a child with 100/100 talent is raised by a father with 100/100 fatherhood

Got to love that Henrik is almost offended at the idea that he would have tried to force Magnus to continue doing anything he didn't want to do.

Magnus explained it back then....Kasparov wanted to dictate to Magnus which tournaments he should take part in and which openings he should play against the individual opponents...Magnus didn't want to be restricted in such a corset, it didn't bother him at all I like it and I can totally understand that.

Henrik should've won dad of the year, every year since Magnus's birth. He did what every parent should do, which nearly every parent ignores, trusting the child on his/her decision while only acting as support, not deciding for your child, but letting your child choose. Magnus is very lucky to have a family like that, which is why, along with his strong will, managed to the greatest chess player known to mankind up to date.

Magnus’ father is so caring and supportive it’s really nice

One thing I find interesting about this answer is that it sounds like not only was Magnus talented at Chess, but he also seems talented at learning Chess. Meaning he had an understanding of how he would learn Chess best, and was confident enough in it to reject the recommendations of others. As opposed to people who try to learn things one way, get frustrated, and believe they are bad at the subject instead of accounting for the possibility that the way the subject is being taught may not be the best for them. I think it's reasonable from the coach's perspective that for most players who would want to learn Chess, there would need to be more intensive study. But Magnus recognized that he needed more balance with playing actual games, and that belief was proven right over time as even his coaches agreed that he had that ability as Henrik said to internalize the games after the fact.

“It’s not ours…it’s his”. I really like how he emphasized that. The total antithesis to the stereotypical overbearing parent.

This is what Josh Waitzkin said he lacked when he got a bit older in his chess studies, the fact that his coaches were shaping him in a manner that was different to his nature. Good on Magnus and his parents to not do the same mistake, which has undoubtably ended many brilliant minds future in various endeavors.

1:03 Said no Asian parent ever.

Reflecting on this since it’s been 17 years, I think it’s safe to say Magnus made the right decision.

Believe me when I tell you this, Henrik Carlsen is the biggest reason for Magnus' success. It's one thing to have natural talent and dedication and desire to excel towards something, but all those things can be wasted if you don't get the right environment. The reason for Magnus' jaw dropping excellence is that he has been the absolute king of his desires and goals and his mind since he was a child. You can gather this much from all the information about him on the internet. But had he experienced any resistance from his parents regarding his dreams, it is unlikely that he would have achieved the level of success that he has now. Magnus' dad has been the perfect foil under which he has bloomed into a diamond. Henrik Carlsen is the definition of the ideal parent. I salute him and I wish other parents and would-be parents can take inspiration from him.

When asked who Magnus's favorite chess player is, he said Magnus at age 20. The dude no doubt had a champion mindset even as a kid. No wonder he decline Kasparov, he knew he could just do it himself and didn't want his playing style to change yet.

It's worth noting though that Carlsen did very much end up working with Kasparov later on, around 2009/2010 and it was during this time working together that Carlsen first reached #1. By then, Kasparov had been retired from competitive chess for about 5 years and Carlsen said in interviews that Kasparov was still incredibly strong (they supposedly played a few training games).

Henrik Carlson should write a book on how to be a good a parent.

Magnus was right at that time!!!...TOTALLY different styles!!!

such valuable insight here, thanks for the interview

Magnus is really lucky to have a father like this

Tl;dr Great parent lets his son determine how he wants to enjoy his hobby.

This reminds me of a movie about young gymnasts. In an Eastern European country a team of teenage gymnasts are under the the finger of the brutal coach, they get beaten even, when they look lazy. Then we get introduced to a young Canadian guy, who does everything they do, and more, with ease, and on his own volition, just by putting in the hard work while also having fun. What a different approach!

A wise father - trusting the individuality and freedom of his child. What a marvelous person Henrik is!

This his game, his life. Very respectful for a parent.

Well spoken as always Henrik! 🙂

What an excellent, Father!! I agree, whole-heartedly with this concept. Children need to start making good decisions at youthful ages, with guidance, but they need to choose their food at restaurants and such, not moms always picking or the dads always "Protecting the Adult Decision," and losing that valuable lesson for their children...Wonderful to hear this concept!! Thank you for the transparency!

My guess: because he knows him. Kasparov is difficult to get along with by all accounts.

Respecting another person's right and freedom to make their own decisions is a key. Especially for a parent-child relationship, but with all kinds of human relations as well. Violating another's freedom in this way is more destructive than usually acknowledged and appreciated.

Such nice understanding Parent 👌🙏🙏

Maybe Magnus was influenced by Bobby Fischer's 'I'd rather do it myself mentality'.

This man is a wonderful (and very intelligent) Dad...Good for you, Dad!

Amazing dad. Amazing son.

Now that's great parenting

this is a good lesson on parenting

I think it is too simplistic to just say trust your child as a parent. As a parent you need to work out what areas to trust your child and what areas you need to be more firm and steer them away into another direction always through good communication. It is also important to never destroy your child's interest/hobbies by insisting things are done in your way

This way people wouldnt say ,oh Magnus is great because of Kasparov,haha got you.

Tbf Kasparov was pretty rude to decline a handshake

Lers be honest Magnus wants to write his own history. Nobody dictates the GOAT of chess.

He saw his son's talent and didn't try to mold it into what Magnus didn't want. A lot of parents should take a lesson from him.

This guy is a hero.

Gm Garry kasparvo player introduced in Play magnus chess aap......

TLDR: He was given homework.

What a great dad, knows exactly how to groom his children.

There is also the fact that every GM respects Garry, but nobody really likes him. He is notoriously arrogant and a pain to work with. Hikaru also worked with him for about a year and then said: nope, I'm out!

What a great dad! It is so rare to see a parent allow his child to make his own decisions. As parents we all want to try and help but sometimes the best way to help is to allow a child to learn from their choices and support them not matter what. I think Kasparov is an arrogant person that would have tried to take the credit for Magnus's success.

I don't think I know anyone as rational and with sense as Carlsen's father. This is a "fornuftig" mann on his best. A child's happiness is ALWAYS number one priority, doesn't matter. Parenting at its best

Magnus saw the option to work with Kasparov, but he didn't like it

Did Garry contacted Magnus to give him some chess lessons lately?

Does somebody know why the issue Carlsen have to Kramnik?

ÜSTAD KASPAROV, ŞAMPİYON MAGNUS 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Magnánimo, Salu2 from Chile. Oooh boy!!

Cool Dad!

a real man

As another Scandinavian sportslegend Once said: leave me alone, I know what I'm doing!

magnus is an alien!

There was some years ago, i have seen on the tv and youtube an advertasing about Garry Kasparov giving chess lessons for 3 persons at a table, he suggested to be chess coach, showing his method calculation not easy to understand more not fun, yeah i have the impression Garry is an exigeant coach, like " do this! Do that! Not do this! No not do that, that's like that and not otherly!" i have the impression so if i'll have him like coach that i'll do training chess, chess lessons with him, my opinions about chess, my choice will be limited, "i have to do make like Garry Kasparov" i will decline too, i prefer to watch some games of the chessbrah with Aman and Eric, some chess game with the Botez sisters playing chess in some squares on youtube and other channels and to play friendly on chess web sites, lol Garry Kasparov has enough money like that 😆😆😆 he is a chess legend having much won chess games, tournaments, he have to much money🤑🤑🤑 $$$ he doesn't need give chess lessons 😄😄😄

And is that all that interests you today, and yesterday, and a week ago and three weeks ago? Only chess? Do not yell when they come to free you, raise your hands and surrender.

Magnus,hello from Russia

So Magnus had very few "sessions" with Kasparov as a teacher.

Compare this with all the fathers from football stars…

Hmm weird, you let your kid pursue their own happiness, and do things their way and they become the greatest in the world.

It seems parents don't treat their kids with this type of respect. Henrik treated Magnus like an adult at 14. Who knows if Magnus would have been as great of a player if he was forced to only play one opening (like Gary wanted) and had to do other things that weren't interesting or that he disliked.

Soooo, why?

Bec.. ahm, He cannot reach the Prime Meridian:-) by Garry kasparov,himself.

Всем привет

I'ld say it's because Kasparov saw that Magnus has the potential to be the next world champion and could get a part of the fame as the world champion trainer.

"The story you might have heard." WHAT STORY? I've never seen such a long non-answer to a question.

So, basically he declined to work with Kasparov, because Kasparov gave him homework. Funny story.

Different styles of play

Maybe Carlsen thought that from that moment he can improve better if he prepares independently, because there is always a time in everyone life when they r suppose to stop taking support of their parents/teachers/guardians and become self dependent, and i guess Magnus reached that point too soon :) Sometimes, individual level freedoms and choosing our own path, making our own decisions is much more important than choosing the direction given by other expert elites

Or the very premature reasoning ,Is He wants to practice alone😜... Or maybe he was teased to garry kasparov as a ,Part time lover.

Why didn't a young person want to spend time with Kasparov? I can't possibly imagine...

Nice way to say that the relationship with Kasparov was restricting Magnus' ability to grow as a chess player even though Kasparov himself is a brilliant player. Understandable.

I heard that Magnus father is much better in chess than his son but it's the biggest family secret.

its his game hahahaha

Cuz carlsen better than Garry .d

God doesn’t want anybody in hell because He loves us, but you must understand why we deserve hell and why those who refuse to live under His authority will go there. He gave us the law (Ten Commandments) not to make us righteous, but rather to show us our sin (Romans 3:20). We’re not sinners because we sin, but rather we sin because we’re sinners. Sin is the nature of our flesh that we are born with due to the sin of Adam in the garden. For someone to be justified before God they have to be sinless. We’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23), and the the law demands death for those who sin (Romans 6:23). God is righteous, so He must punish our sin, which is what He did through His Son Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus is Holy and sinless, yet He received our sin when He died on the cross, so that we can be righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5:21). When He died on the cross, He said “It is finished” (John 19:30), which means He paid the full price for all of your sins (past, present, and future) to be forgiven. He was buried and rose again from the dead. God will forgive anybody who puts their full trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. We aren’t saved based on our good deeds, but only by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). His precious blood that He shed is the only reason why we can be forgiven of our sins (Hebrews 9:22). If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead, then you’ll be saved (Romans 10:9). You are born-again with the Spirit of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and are not only legally justified before God, but also are accredited His righteous (Romans 4:24). Believers live for Christ now, so get to know Him through His Word. I recommend reading the book of Romans and the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and watching Pastor Joseph Prince’s online sermons!

Garry is a P.O.S. Magnus is the Chess Messiah! Fischer a close second

Carlsen probably figured out at a young age that he was not going to learn much from Kasparov (who was a master of computer analysis and memorization with less pure talent than say, Karpov, Spassky, or Carlsen himself).

Magnus has surpassed Kasparov. Kasparov had little or nothing to offer.

Lol..."hobby." Maybe one day Magnus will outgrow his hobby and get a real job.

Why he said no to Kasparov? Simple. He cheaped out on his son's education and he's trying to cover it up. Magnus wouldn't deny it and go against his father. Fortunately for Magnus he's still the top dog. But who knows what rating he would've gotten now had he worked with him at a young age. He'd definitely be better for it. You gotta factor in the law of diminishing returns but still it would've made a difference in FIDE rating. I bet the question haunts both of them to this day. But to address his issue, Kasparov shaping Magnus, yes maybe he would shape him into a style he isn't comfortable with. Maybe. But then he would've been stronger for it. He would've realized what he wanted and didn't want earlier. There really would be some real difference in FIDE rating when you compare the two alternate universes.

Henrik Carlsen should write a book on how to be a good parent

It is admirable that Magnus's father respected his son's decision.