Chess: Carlsen’s four defeats in a row – just a blip or the start of a career downturn?

Magnus Carlsen's recent string of four consecutive losses at the World Team Rapid in Hong Kong, followed by a fourth-place finish in Oslo, has raised eyebrows and led to speculation about a potential career downturn. Though Carlsen has had tough patches before, his age and personal life changes, including starting a family, might be influencing his focus. This period of underperformance could signal a shift towards a less intense chess schedule, which would be a significant change for the world No. 1 and a big deal for the chess community, given his dominance in the sport.