Carlsen rekindles GOAT debate with fourth title

I made the right decision. As for the opinions of Garry (Kasparov) and Vlad (Kramnik), they’re entitled to their stupid opinions.

M CARLSEN, defends his game

speedier round -- a format that saw him beat Sergey Karjakin in the 2016 title match in New York.

“It feels good after all the criticism that I got Monday,” Carlsen admitted after his victory.

“I think I made the right decision ... As for the opinions of Garry and Vlad, I mean, they are entitled to their stupid opinions.”

‘MOZART OF CHESS’

The man once dubbed the “Mozart of chess” by The Washington Post will not have to defend his title again until 2020.

His first came when he toppled Viswanathan Anand on the former champion’s home turf in India in 2013.

Carlsen defended his crown in a rematch played the subsequent year in Russia.

But he really began making a name for himself when he managed to draw Kasparov -- then regarded as the best of all time -at the tender age of 13.

Carlsen actually beat Kasparov’s compatriot and nemesis Anatoly Karpov at the same event.

Yet even Carlsen himself admitted only a few days ago that he felt nostalgic for a time when he played every game without fear.

“My favourite player from the past is probably myself like three-four years ago,” Carlsen said.

“Frankly speaking, the last couple of years my game hasn’t been great.”

The title will see Carlsen’s grab 55 percent of the millioneuro ($1.14 million) cash prize. Challenger Caruana takes home the rest.

Sahara Warriors 7 (Matthew Perry 5, Salim Azmi 2) beat Sona Polo 5 (Gerardo Mazzini 2, Sawai Padmanabh Singh 2, Abhimanyu Pathak 1).

MANIPUR POLO

IMPHAL: Defending champions India (B) polo team beat England 7-4 to retain the Manipur Polo International title.

Result: India (B) 7 (S Ojit 4,Th Kaoba 2, S Bimol 1) bt England 4 (George Amor 2, Henry Amor 1, Ben Eeley 1).

SUDIRMAN CUP

NEWDELHI: India has got the hosting rights of the 2023 Sudirman Cup, it was announced by the international badminton association. The world mixed team event will be held in New Delhi.

GUJARAT WIN IN PKL

PUNE: Gujarat Fortunegiants came up with a power-packed performance to defeat local favourites Puneri Paltan 45-20 in the Pro Kabaddi League here on Thursday.