Split: Carlsen draws his last game as classical world champion

Magnus Carlsen, who decided against defending his championship title in the classical format, played in the Norwegian Team League today against David Howell, which was his last game before the Nepomniachtchi-Liren match takes place to determine his successor. Carlsen, who still tops the rating chats, played out a draw with David Howell in a straightforward game.

Carlsen’s last game as a world champion: Black pieces against David Howell

The Norwegian faced a good friend in the form of British GM David Howell in his farewell game, a somewhat low-stakes affair in the Norwegian Team League. Carlsen won both his earlier games in the weekend in convincing fashion over 2341-rated FM Levi Andre Tallaksen and 2631-rated GM Jon Ludvig Hammer, his former teammate at last year’s Olympiad. Howell, formerly a teammate of Carlsen in the competition, was able to claim a creditable draw against the world number one in a fairly quiet game.