Champion meets Champion: Chess fan Jakob Schubert meets Magnus Carlsen

A meeting of world champions took place on Tuesday at the Chess Champions League in the Zillertal. Climbing World Champion Jakob Schubert is a huge chess fan and dropped by the European Chess Club Cup in Mayrhofen.

The four-time climbing world champion and Olympic bronze medallist ‘kibitzed’ for two hours in the large hall of the Europahaus. He was able to admire 127 grandmasters. And organiser Werner Csrnko actually managed to arrange a meeting with superstar Magnus Carlsen at short notice. Immediately after his victory, the five-time World Chess Champion and the four-time World Climbing Champion chatted. Carlsen himself is an enthusiastic mountaineer.

Today the fourth round is on the agenda. In the women’s competition, the team from Pamhagen sensationally beat the number 1 from Monaco yesterday. Today Pamhagen will meet CSU ASE Superbet from Romania in the duel of the only unbeaten teams. In the men’s event, former World Champion Anand only managed a draw again on Wednesday – but his team is still ahead with three wins from three games. He plays Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze) today. World Champion Magnus Carlsen did not play yesterday – but his Norwegian team Oferspill still won and is second after three rounds. Carlsen will play against Pentala Harikrishna (India) from Novy Bor Chess club today from 2 pm.

Text/Photos (Credit: Hannes Neumayer).