My former coach, Simen Agdestein, used to be the best player in Norway.

- Magnus Carlsen

Without the element of enjoyment, it is not worth trying to excel at anything.

- Magnus Carlsen

Unfortunately I'm still not a fashion expert.

- Magnus Carlsen

My father, a fine chess player himself, has been a massive influence throughout my life.

- Magnus Carlsen

It's nice to be financially secure. Apart from that, I really don't care too much about money.

- Magnus Carlsen

I'm not really into rap.

- Magnus Carlsen

Chess only appeals to quite a small minority. It does not have the cachet of a mainstream popular sport.

- Magnus Carlsen

Maybe if I didn't have the talent in chess I'd find the talent in something else. The only thing I know is that I have talent in chess, and I'm satisfied with that.

- Magnus Carlsen

I was lucky enough to attend schools where they were understanding about when I needed to go abroad to play chess. Of course, socially it is important to go to school and interact with people your own age.

- Magnus Carlsen

I enjoy hiking and skiing, like most Norwegians. In winter, there will be snow for months on end. In the summer, there are the long evenings to enjoy.

- Magnus Carlsen

It's just not my nature to go around idolizing people.

- Magnus Carlsen

It's easy for me to get along with chess players. Even though we are all very different, we have chess in common.

- Magnus Carlsen

I get more upset at losing at other things than chess. I always get upset when I lose at Monopoly.

- Magnus Carlsen

I got the travel bug when I was quite young. My parents took me and my sisters out of school and we travelled all over Europe. It was an eye-opening experience and, although I love Norway, I also enjoy visiting new countries. I don't get homesick.

- Magnus Carlsen

I don't look at computers as opponents. For me it is much more interesting to beat humans.

- Magnus Carlsen

Some people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it's okay to lose. I don't. You have to be merciless.

- Magnus Carlsen

People ask what my goal is. I don't have a goal.

- Magnus Carlsen

Right now I'm really happy with how things are going with my chess career, so I'm not thinking of doing anything else.

- Magnus Carlsen

If you want to get to the top, there's always the risk that it will isolate you from other people.

- Magnus Carlsen

I started by just sitting by the chessboard exploring things. I didn't even have books at first, and I just played by myself. I learnt a lot from that, and I feel that it is a big reason why I now have a good intuitive understanding of chess.

- Magnus Carlsen