Indonesian Chess Player Chelsie Monica Stuns World Number One Magnus Carlsen

Indonesian chess player Chelsie Monica achieved a stunning victory over world number one Magnus Carlsen at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in Hong Kong. She was the sole participant out of 24 to force the Norwegian grandmaster, widely considered the greatest of all time, to admit defeat.

The pivotal moment came late in the game when Monica executed a crucial rook move from c1 to h1. Shortly after, Carlsen extended his hand, signaling his concession. Monica's reaction, a mix of a smile, a deep breath, and covering her face in disbelief, captured the magnitude of her accomplishment. After the matches concluded, she even sought an autograph from Carlsen and posed for a photo with him.

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Playing with Magnus made me happy. Of course, there was nervousness because he is the best chess player of all time and also one of my idols.

For Monica, the opportunity to play against Carlsen was deeply meaningful. She admitted to feeling both happiness and nervousness, as she was strategizing against a player she has long admired. "Playing with Magnus made me happy. Of course, there was nervousness because he is the best chess player of all time and also one of my idols," she shared in an interview.

Initially, Monica's goal was simply to prolong the game, not to win. "I just hoped not to lose in five or ten minutes. I tried to just survive, and maybe I was a little lucky," she said. However, those familiar with her career know that her victory was not solely due to chance. Monica has devoted most of her life to chess, consistently achieving success since her youth. She earned the title of Woman International Master (WIM) at the ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championship in 2011.

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I just hoped not to lose in five or ten minutes. I tried to just survive, and maybe I was a little lucky.