Back in 2007, Magnus’ Dad wrote the following on his blog:
Magnus has also been fortunate enough to spend two training session with Garry Kasparov himself, and Garry and his team have been very supportive of Magnus. These sessions were of unique importance not only because of the extremely high quality Garry brings to the analysis board but also as an eye opener of the long, difficult and laborious road leading to the top. Despite being a GM, Magnus really felt like a pupil and novice in the analysis. (It was the first time he had felt like this for many years!) I’m sure these experiences has contributed considerably to his development over the last 2 years.
This following is the headline at the Chess.FM blog:
Carlsen and Kasparov team up
www.Chess.FM/blog
News out of Norway this morning: Magnus Carlsen has been working informally with Garry Kasparov for some time, and now they are taking that relationship to a new level. Garry Kasparov is to be Carlsen’s trainer! (VG Nett, Sports pp.8-9)
In addition, ChessBase posted the following:
In complete secrecy chess star Magnus Carlsen, 18, has engaged the history’s greatest chess player, Garry Kasparov, as a personal trainer. The goal is to make the Norwegian, who currently ranks as the fourth-best chess player in the world, the world’s best during the course of the coming year. In addition, Magnus Carlsen of Lommedalen will be built up to become the strongest brand in international chess.
“You will not find a bigger name than Kasparov,” says former Carlsen mentor GM Simen Agdestein, “nor a more competent coach.” When Kasparov retired in 2005 he had been an undisputed world number one from 1985 to 2000.
The collaboration, which until now has been kept secret, has been under way for six months, confirms Magnus Carlsen himself. He will not reveal what the training program costs, but confirms that it is expensive.
Now the former director of the Hjemmet Mortensen, Espen Agdestein, is working full time to find sponsors for Carlsen. “This is the king training his crown prince,” said Espen Agdestein. “While Kasparov is a living legend, Carlsen is the biggest attraction that exists in the chess world today. This is the Dream Team.”
Source: ChessBase.com
How much is one session of 60 minutes with Kasparov?
Probably $10,000. He ain’t cheap and he needs money to pay Mig 🙂
Great news!
This doesn’t surprise me in the least. Botvinik..Kasparov, now Kasparov Carlsen…it’s just a natural thing. And to think that last year I was calling for a Kasparov Carlsen exhibition match…which would by the way make way more money than anything else out there at the moment. Hope it turns out well.
Mike Magnan
Certainly, ‘Kasparov’ and ‘Carlsen’ are the brands in chess. There are few others.
ut-oh is 2900 posible?
The masters unite.
2nd match Kasparov – Karpov in Paris, December 11-13, 2009.
Is it too late for Anand?
Seriously, the guy has such huge native talent, but he didn’t have that kind of training when he was in his teens.
Interview with Magnus:
http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/magnus-carlsen-my-job-is-to-improve-my-chess/
I don’t get it. How can expensive Kasparov be better than not so expensive and much stronger Rybka?
Fritz is a bigger brand than Kasparov or Kasparov.
Hubris! Magnus could eat Garry for breakfast!
Kasparov is a has-been.
Magnus is King!
“Is it too late for Anand?
Seriously, the guy has such huge native talent, but he didn’t have that kind of training when he was in his teens.”
Anand is busy making babies.
His wife’s ovaries are running the show now.
It will be interesting to see how it effects his career !!!! Fascinating !!!
I don’t know about this collaboration. Chess-wise, I think it is quite obvious that Carlsen is stronger than Kasparov NOW. Kasparov did not play competitive chess for years.
So the only question that is relevant is about his coaching competence. Is Kasparov a good coach? Coaching is not only a matter of understanding and knowing the subject you teach. I know a lot of strong chess players who are bad chess coaches. Kasparov seems to be not a relaxed stable type of man. He is a great chess player but a great coach? I am not sure.
On the other hand, if there is chemistry between Carlsen and Kasparov and if Carlsen knows how to benefit from it that its a WaWi Gazoomb! These two great chess minds can come out with great moves, great ideas . In this case, Carlsen is going to be number one.
Personally I don’t believe that this collaboration will do this for Carlsen.
For me, Anand’s team work is more effective. It is a long run team relationships that last.
And there are many other contenders for the title. Carlsen is great but there are few great ones on his level and I have doubts about the confidence that Carlsen is to be #1 in the future.
Best wishes
A. Weiler
Weiler, I think youre to pessimistic. Kasparov may not be the best coach, or at his top, but he can teach magnus what it takes to climb to the top and stay there. Magnus, although hard working as he must have been, is so immense talented that he has become world’s nr. 3-4 without years of preparation (by a team) like Kasparov in his prime. Magnus has to work like sh… in the next few years to get at the top and stay there as predicted by all his peers. Kasparov is the man to help him get there.
Lars
Dear Lars.
I have my personal opinion and judgement that is based on my limited chess understanding. I may be wrong. I may be passimistic. Either or,
I am just not convinced of Carlsen’s superiority over so many great players in the chess world today.
Maybe you are right and the team Kasparov Carlsen will bring Carlsen the crown. I know that other great players also have their coaches. Some of them are not as famous as Kasparov or are not past World Champions . But except of the fame his I don’t know how to assess Kasparov’s capabilities as a coach neither his playing strength now. To compare him to Botvinik is misleading. Indeed both were the greatest players of their time but Botvinik was a teacher of chess with a lot of experience and he created athe famous Botwinik schoolof chess. Kasparov is a different personality and different man who had other aspirations, political for example.
Anyway , best wishes of success to Carlsen with his new teacher Kasparov.
A Weiler
Of course, Carlsen is not superior today. He is – lets say – top 5 in the world. Just 18 years and coming from Norway, a C-nation in chess, that shows his POTENTIAL to reach the very top.
IF and WHEN this will happen, remains to be seen. There are many talents out there and the competition is very tough.
Anyway, my money is on Carlsen!
The man with thousand eyes coaching the boy with thousand raisins.
How can they loose?
This show Magnus’ desire to reach the top and the kings belief in him as a successor.
This is good for Carlsen and bad news for all other + 2700 players.