--- title: Chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen Wins Three Games Blindfolded: Video description: He's the highest-rated player in the history of chess canonical: https://time.com/3899680/chess-grandmaster-magnus-carlsen-wins-blindfolded/ author: Samantha Grossman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-05-28T14:39:28.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:47:31.186Z og:title: Watch Chess Champ Magnus Carlsen Win Three Games at Once, Blindfolded og:description: He's the highest-rated player in the history of chess og:url: https://time.com/3899680/chess-grandmaster-magnus-carlsen-wins-blindfolded/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Watch Chess Champ Magnus Carlsen Win Three Games at Once, Blindfolded twitter:description: He's the highest-rated player in the history of chess twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Watch Chess Champ Magnus Carlsen Win Three Games at Once (While Blindfolded) by [Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman May 28, 2015 2:39 PM UTC by [Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman May 28, 2015 2:39 PM UTC Magnus Carlsen is a 24-year-old chess mastermind, who’s currently the top-rated player in the world — and the highest-rated player in the history of chess, period. In 2013, TIME named Carlsen one of the 100 [most influential people in the world](http://time100.time.com/2013/04/18/time-100/slide/magnus-carlsen/). At the recent Sohn Conference in New York, the Norwegian chess grandmaster took on three opponents simultaneously — and he was completely blindfolded. This meant he had to visualize the three games in his mind while playing against the clock. Sounds tough, but Carlsen was up for the challenge. Watch the drama unfold in the clip above. ### The Superstar and the Sex Symbol: The World's Highest Ranking Chess Champions  Magnus Carlsen, a 22-year old Norwegian, became chess grandmaster at 13 and is the youngest chess player in history to become ranked number one in the world. August 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Magnus with one of his seconds, a grandmaster from Russia, in Kragero, Norway, analyzing past chess games — one of the main training exercises while preparing for a tournament. August 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Magnus playing beach volleyball in front of journalists in Kragero during his training for the chess championship. August 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Magnus chasing after a tennis ball in Kragero during his training for the chess championship. August 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Magnus in his hotel room in Kragero during his training for the chess championship. August 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Magnus' clothes, which include a Boston Celtics Shaq jersey. Magnus travels light. August 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Magnus pretends to play golf in front of journalists in Kragero during his training for the chess championship. August 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Magnus takes a break from chess in Kragero during his training for the championship. August 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Viswanathan Anand in his office and trophy room at his home in Chennai, India. Current World Chess Champion, 43-year old Anand has been the undisputed champion since 2007\. October 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Anand and his family have lunch at home in Chennai with their babysitter and cook. October 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Anand exercising. October 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Besides chess, Anand is passionate about astronomy and bird watching. October 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Magnus and Anand's posters for sale in Chennai ahead of their championship match. October 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Parents watch from the stairs outside while their children compete in a tournament in Chennai. They are not allowed inside. October 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  Latest scores in a youth chess tournament posted outside in Chennai. October 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  A tournament hall in Chennai. October 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  A chess board in a children's chess school in Chennai. The school has produced several youth world champions. October 2013. Misha Friedman—COSMOS for TIME  An empty tournament hall in Chennai. October 2013. 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