Norway’s chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen turned 26 on Wednesday, and captured chess’ biggest prize, the world championship title on his birthday. Carlsen has now won the title thrice, since taking it from the Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand in 2013. The championship match with the Russian challenger Sergey Karjakin proceeded into the overtime rapid-game play, following a 
rigorous draw in the robust 12-game series of traditional chess. In the rapids, Carlsen won twice in four games to secure the important title which we fondly refer to as “the holy grail of chess.” With the exception of the twelfth game, the classical match was ravishing and compelling. The world champion, who had grown accustomed to having things his way, was severely stretched by his worthwhile opponent. Karjakin struck first in the eighth game, after seven scintillating draws.