Magnus Carlsen Retains World Chess Title in 2021

The 2021 World Chess Championship took place from November 24 to December 12 in Dubai, UAE, featuring Magnus Carlsen defending his title against challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi. The match was held under the auspices of FIDE and played during Expo 2020 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre. Originally scheduled for 2020, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first sporting event to be held at an international exposition since the 1904 Summer Olympics during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, United States. The match began with five consecutive draws. The pivotal moment came in Game 6, where Carlsen secured a victory after a 136-move marathon, the longest game in World Chess Championship history. Following this, Nepomniachtchi made several blunders, allowing Carlsen to win three more games and draw one, concluding the match with a score of 7½–3½. Carlsen's performance was widely praised, with commentators describing it as "epic" and an "all-time classic". This victory marked Carlsen's fifth World Chess Championship title, extending his reign since 2013.