Each time Magnus Carlsen gets defeated in a chess game, it reverberates as news in the chess world. Why? Because he is the highest-ranked player worldwide at 2830, and a world chess champion. Carlsen never lost the world title; rather he gave it up when he refused to engage Ian Nepomniachtchi, whom he had trounced previously.
Nepomniachtchi was the official winner of the 2021-22 Candidates Tournament, so Carlsen was obliged to oppose him. Instead of contesting the match, Carlsen stepped away, allowing for another world champion to be identified. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) called on the No. 2 player of the 2021 Candidates Ding Liren to face Nepomniachtchi for the world championship. Liren became the world chess champion in 2023.