A chess prodigy explains how his mind works

By: 60 Minutes Overtime Staff
Topics: Correspondent Candids

"That's the most amazing thing I've ever seen." That's what 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon said after witnessing chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen play 10 opponents simultaneously-- with his back turned and all 10 boards out of sight!

Watch Bob Simon's profile of Magnus Carlsen

What's the secret to Magnus' magic? Once an opponent makes a move, Magnus instantaneously knows his own next move. But he often waits 30 minutes or so to physically make his move on the board. Why? Hear Magnus explain his methods in this 60 Minutes Overtime feature, filled with interviews and footage that you didn't see on the 60 Minutes broadcast.

What do you think, chess fans? Do the superhuman feats of 21-year-old Norwegian chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen rival those of chess giants like Bobby Fischer?

Watch Mike Wallace's 1972 profile of Bobby Fischer

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by donfrench February 28, 2012 5:27 PM EST: Yes, it is laughable how this interviewer makes it appear that playing 10 people blindfolded is something far out of the ordinary for accomplished chess players. In fact, almost all grand masters can do it easily. My old friend George Koltanowski, now deceased, played 56 blindfold games at 10 seconds per move in 1960 at the age of 57. He won 50 and drew 6, which I believe is still the simultaneous blindfold record. Sure, to the average person it seems remarkable be able to play even one blindfold game. But a little research might have let the interviewer know that he what he was witnessing was not some never-before-seen miracle of genius. This is not to take anything away from Magnus Carlson. He is indeed a chess genius with remarkable playing ability. Whether he is the equal of Bobby Fischer is difficult to say but certainly he would have been a strong opponent for Bobby in his prime.; Reply to this comment

by gbo2k9 February 21, 2012 1:30 PM EST

They didn't mention if he won all 10 games.

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by 1monire February 26, 2012 12:40 PM EST: He won 6 games, made 3 draws and had 1 loss.

by enough-already February 21, 2012 12:36 PM EST

People, people, it's just a GAME for cripes sake! Get a grip. Yeah, the guy has a great memory, but he's just a chess "savant" for lack of a better term. They didn't mention whether he is good at anything else. So what?

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by JS_M February 24, 2012 12:32 PM EST: Well... actually I would love to know how you discovered he's a chess "savant" thanks to 6 videos, and people who talked to him didn't.


by starfleet7 April 22, 2012 7:31 PM EDT: the kid needs a girlfriend


by andrewjsacks February 20, 2012 4:54 PM EST: We are happy to see this chess-related story here. Chess is exciting and not for nerds--regardless of what some TV sitcoms would have you believe.; Reply to this comment


by longtree-2009 February 20, 2012 3:27 AM EST: really like playing chess but far from being really good at it. it's the quiet, the contemplation, the focus of it that appeals to me and an occasional win is gravy. it's like zen.; Reply to this comment


by bsrasmus1 February 20, 2012 12:55 AM EST: Magnus Carlsen is definitely one of the best, if not the best, chess players in the world. But everything else that was said about Magnus Carlsen in this piece could be said of hundreds of other chess players. Is it difficult to play 10 people essentially blindfolded? Of course! But it has been done before by others. In fact, there is a tournament that is played every year in which half of the games are played "blindfolded" by both players. And the other players are just as successful at remembering where the pieces are and are just as capable of playing at their normal strength as Magnus is. It is totally normal, even for weak tournament players, to be able to analyze a chess position in their head without the aid of a board. I wish the media would stop trying to entertain people and get back to hard news. This 60 minutes piece is completely misleading.; Reply to this comment


by AttyFAM February 20, 2012 12:39 AM EST: Bobby Fischer, Samuel Reshevsky, Harry Pillsbury - all of these chess greats had incredible memories. Pillsbury once played 22 blindfold games simultaneously, and later the same year (1902) another 21 blindfold simultaneous games.

I once played against Samuel Reshevsky in a 50 person simultaneous match. He was not blindfolded, but he was 70 years old and he did not take more than a second or two at any board. If I remember correctly, he lost one game and won 49. Were it not for WW2, he would have been world champion.

Bobby Fischer would play five minute chess tournaments and would introduce theoretical novelties on the fly.; Reply to this comment


by mykesoffer February 19, 2012 11:55 PM EST: If it's possible would you please ask Magnus Carlsen if he would teach me how to play chess, I would teach him how to write poetry if he doesn't know already. For me it has a lot to do with inspiration that comes in many ways and then poetic rhyming honestly flows. I wonder if the same has do with playing chess. Of course he inspires me to. Thank you 60 Minutes for sharing this incredible story.
Mike Soffer; Reply to this comment

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