World chess champion Magnus Carlsen, the first Norwegian to win the crown and one of the strongest players in history, announced Wednesday he will not defend his title again in an upcoming match.
Mr. Carlsen, who has been champion since 2013 and has successfully defended the title in four matches since then, has long hinted he may step down, citing in part a lack of motivation.
He most recently defeated challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia decisively in a title match in Abu Dhabi in the fall of 2021.
The Norwegian, only 31, would be the first player to relinquish the world title without being beaten at the board since American Bobby Fischer, who was stripped of his title in 1975 by international chess officials in a dispute over the terms of his first title defense match against Soviet star Anatoly Karpov.