Magnus Carlsen Defends World Chess Title in 2018

The 2018 World Chess Championship took place from November 9 to 28 in London, featuring reigning champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and challenger Fabiano Caruana of the United States. In an unprecedented turn, all 12 classical games ended in draws, marking the first time in World Championship history that no game was won in the classical segment. The match proceeded to rapid tiebreaks, where Carlsen demonstrated his superiority by winning all three games, securing a 3–0 victory and successfully defending his title for the third time. The prize fund was €1 million, with Carlsen receiving €550,000 and Caruana €450,000. This championship was notable not only for its record number of draws but also for the intense strategic depth displayed by both players. Carlsen's decisive performance in the rapid tiebreaks reaffirmed his status as the world's top chess player.