Magnus Carlsen's Early Chess Journey Began 26 Years Ago

Magnus Carlsen, born on November 30, 1990, in Tønsberg, Norway, started learning chess at the age of five. His interest in the game grew when he aimed to outplay his older sister, Ellen.

Carlsen's tournament career began in the summer of 1999 when he participated in the children's group at the Norwegian Championships, achieving a positive result. Following this, he played in a tournament in Gausdal and returned there in January 2000 for another competition. In the summer of that year, he competed in the Peer Gynt Open, a tournament named after a character from Norwegian folklore.

During the Peer Gynt Open on July 31, 2000, Carlsen faced various opponents, including a loss to a significantly stronger player in the first round. However, he rebounded in the second round against fellow nine-year-old Jonathan Carlstedt, who also later became a chess grandmaster. This marked the beginning of Carlsen's journey towards becoming a world champion and a prominent figure in chess history.