Is Magnus Carlsen, a blond teenager who lives in a remote town in Norway, the best prodigy since Garry Kasparov? Quite possibly.

 

Carlsen, who turned 16 last week, is ranked No. 21 in the world and recently competed in the Tal Memorial tournament in Moscow. He finished in a tie for eighth in a field of 10, but it was the first time he had competed in such a strong tournament.

In a telephone interview from his home in Lommedalen, a town of 5,000, Carlsen said the players he faced had “very good opening preparation and they are very tough to fight.”

He will get more chances to prove himself against the world’s best when he plays in candidates’ matches next year for the world championship — the youngest to do so since Bobby Fischer.

What makes Carlsen so intriguing is that he seems to have come out of nowhere and that he tries to lead a fairly normal life.

Carlsen said he learned to play from his father when he was 5 but did not really become interested until he was 8 and waited until he was 12 to start training seriously with his coach at the time, Simon Agdenstein, a Norwegian grandmaster. A year later, Carlsen became the third-youngest grandmaster in history.

Unlike other top players, who often study eight hours a day, Carlsen said that he studies for about three. When he is not competing, he attends private school full time, although he admitted that doing so had become more difficult recently.

Carlsen said he thought he could be world champion, but “I don’t expect it in any way.”

When he has the opportunity, Carlsen plays aggressively, but at the Tal Memorial, he was often on the defensive. In the end, he lost two games and drew seven.

In Round 3, Carlsen and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, a 21-year-old from Azerbaijan ranked No. 12, played an uncompromising game that ended in a draw.

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The opening was the Taimanov Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Through 13 Bh6, the players followed a familiar path.

Mamedyarov missed a chance for an advantage. Instead of 22 ... Qc6, he could have tried 22 ... Qc2, when after 23 Bd8 Rd8 24 Qe6 (not 24 Re1, when 24 ... Rf8 is lethal) Qb1 25 Qd5 Qb5 26 Bc4 Qb7 27 Qe6, and White does not have enough for his material deficit.

Carlsen also missed his best chance. Instead of 24 Rb8, he could have played 24 Qh7 Nf3 25 gf Rd8 26 Bh3, when White is better.

In the final position, Black’s active bishop and knight compensated for his slight material deficit, so the players agreed to a draw.