[WastingMyTime89]

Hard to take the WCC seriously when everyone know Carlsen would have won and just find the whole thing too boring to take part.

[fasterik]

I don't see why that implies we shouldn't take it seriously. The world #1 didn't want to play, so we got a great match between the world #2 and #3 with some very interesting and complex games. Do you also think that Karpov shouldn't have been taken seriously as world champion?

[dkqmduems]

I suspect Magnus would disagree.

[rabite]

Ding is in fact the sole player that can make this not statement not true, as he is a candidate with a known positive score against Magnus. A couple WCCs ago Magnus said Ding was the only player that he wasn't sure he could win against -- but that he wouldn't make it, after a poor showing in the candidates at the time.

Anyways, I don't know who would win in a Carlsen - Ding WCC. Nobody does. If the game statistics are to be believed, then Ding would.

[Andrew_nenakhov]

Prior to previous championship match Nepo also had positive score vs Carlsen.

[hgsgm]

And Carlsen attended that match.

[FreakLegion]

Ding has a losing record against Magnus in every time control.

[rabite]

Thanks for the correction. He had a winning record back when Magnus said that quote, and I didn't check the current standings.

[jackmott42]

What a horrible comment

[WastingMyTime89]

How so? The eventual winner didn’t win the Candidates and the Candidates winner was crushed two years ago.

The whole thing is already hard to take seriously usually with the whole wild card thing and the format being criticised by approximately everyone.

[kelipso]

Or he was scared of losing after spending months preparing. He'll say whatever makes him look good probably but who knows.

[NhanH]

He first voiced his discontent with the format around 13-15 years ago (he was #1 player by elo rating, but not yet the world champion), even skipping a cycle or two as protest. Afterward, he participated anyway and hold the title in fairly dominating fashion 10 years straight.

Maybe we should take his words at face value and that he really is fed up with the thing.

[jpgvm]

Considering how much happier he seems since he decided to forgo defending the title yeah, good chance he just doesn't want it or care about it anymore.

IMO good for him. He won it all and now he is doing new things with his life.

[dlp211]

To further solidify this, Magnus crushed Ian in the last WCC 7.5 to 3.5.

I think most folks agree that Magnus is the best player in the world, but the WCC was far better with him not in it.

[riwsky]

Magnus OP, ruins meta. needs nerf in next patch devs PLZ

[apetrov]

don't hold your breath for that. Carlsen is 2853 and nobody else is above 2800 now.