Chess’ future looms over the world championship, once again missing its biggest star

As the World Chess Championship commences, an absence casts a long shadow over the hallowed halls. Magnus Carlsen, the reigning champion and chess’s undisputed king, has abdicated his throne, leaving an incandescent void amidst the grandest of stages. The absence of the game’s greatest maestro has sent shockwaves through the chess world, sparking debates and fueling speculation about the future of the sport. While the rivalry between Carlsen and his challengers brought immense popularity and stardom to chess, his departure leaves a profound question mark hanging over the game’s global appeal and the mantle of its future leadership.