I don't consider myself a particularly young chess player. I have been playing in the best tournaments in the world since I was 16 years old. In other sports, if you have been playing for seven years, you are not a young prodigy any more. You're one of the pros.
Magnus CarlsenWhat I admired most about him [Bobby Fischer] was his ability to make what was in fact so difficult look easy to us. I try to emulate him.
Magnus CarlsenMy father, a fine chess player himself, has been a massive influence throughout my life.
Magnus CarlsenOne of the things that first attracted me to chess is that it brings you into contact with intelligent, civilized people - men of the stature of Garry Kasparov, the former world champion, who was my part-time coach.
Magnus CarlsenSome people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it's OK to lose. I don't. You have to be merciless.
Magnus CarlsenAll I expect are wins and to get pleasure from the game. And if someone thinks something about me, if someone's dissatisfied with something... that's not my headache. I hope someday I'll become World Champion - and I'll make all these people happy. But even if for some reason that doesn't happen it won't stop me getting pleasure from chess. I'm sure of that.
Magnus Carlsen