Magnus Carlsen's genius extends far beyond the chessboard into football and poker

The 'Mozart of chess' isn't just a grandmaster—he's a fantasy football tactician and a poker pro. How does he master it all? His rivals are stunned.

, and Administrator

2026 May 5 . 11:03 AM

1 min read

The image shows a photograph of Martin Muirsepp, a former Miami Heat player, holding a basketball... — The image shows a photograph of Martin Muirsepp, a former Miami Heat player, holding a basketball in his hand. In the background, there are people sitting in chairs and a table with various objects on it. At the bottom of the photograph, there is text that reads "1991-92 Topps Basketball Card".

Magnus Carlsen's genius extends far beyond the chessboard into football and poker

Magnus Carlsen is best known as a chess legend, holding world titles in classical, rapid, and blitz formats. But his talents stretch far beyond the board. The Norwegian star has also made a name for himself in fantasy football, poker, and even ceremonial football kicks for Real Madrid. Carlsen first earned the nickname 'Mozart of chess' after becoming the youngest world champion in classical chess. He later dominated rapid and blitz formats, making history as the first player to hold all three titles simultaneously.

Off the board, his love for football runs deep. A devoted Real Madrid fan, he has twice performed the ceremonial first kick at their matches. His passion extends to fantasy football, where his team has climbed the ranks in the Fantasy Premier League. Fellow players and analysts now recognise him as an authority in the game. Poker is another long-standing interest. Introduced to it by his coach a decade ago, Carlsen has quietly built a reputation in high-stakes games. His recent two-year sponsorship deal with Unibet highlights his growing influence in the poker world. Yet, even during intense chess tournaments, he finds time for casual football matches. Despite his poker success, some in the chess community remain unaware of this side of his career. Ilya Gorodetsky, a fellow grandmaster, admitted knowing about Carlsen’s fantasy football achievements but not his poker wins.

Carlsen’s achievements span chess, football, and poker, proving his versatility beyond the game that made him famous. With a new Unibet deal and ongoing success in fantasy sports, his influence continues to grow in unexpected areas.