MOSCOW, July 20, Oleg Bogatov. Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi stated that I am not ready to talk about the refusal of the current world champion Norwegian Magnus Carlsen from the match for the world chess crown. Carlsen said on Wednesday that he would not play the title match with Nepomniachtchi. «I am not ready to talk now,» Nepomniachtchi replied to a request to comment on Carlsen's decision. Nepomniachtchi became the winner of the Candidates Tournament in Madrid and won the right to play again for the world chess crown with Carlsen in 2023. The Norwegian defended the title four times, the last time he beat Nepomniachtchi in 2021.
