CHESS: Irate Carlsen pushes away camera after World Blitz Championships loss

Frustrated Magnus Carlsen reacts after loss to Artemiev at FIDE World Rapid and Blitz, but remains in contention for the title.

Reuters

December 28, 2025

Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen attends the news conference ahead of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Paris, France, April 7, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

Magnus Carlsen pushed away a camera after losing to Vladislav Artemiev at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Qatar, the latest example of the former world champion letting his vexation boil over.

Carlsen, world champion between 2013 and 2023, had a frustrating second day at the championships in Doha on Saturday, splitting a point with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave before he was beaten by Artemiev.

When a photographer followed as Carlsen stormed out of the venue, the Norwegian pushed away the camera.

Carlsen attracted attention for slamming his fist on the table after losing to world champion Gukesh Dommaraju at the Norway Chess 2025 tournament.

Also last year, he briefly quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York when governing body FIDE barred him from a round for wearing jeans.

FIDE does not plan any action against Carlsen for Saturday's outburst but will review the incident if a complaint is launched, CEO Emil Sutovsky told Reuters.

Despite his defeat, Carlsen is still in contention for the title at the championships and sits in joint second with seven points alongside Alexey Sarana, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

Artemiev and Hans Niemann share the lead in the open category on 7.5.

-Julien Pretot/Reuters