• Magnus Carlsen played against 143,000 opponents in a record-setting freestyle chess match.
• The game, which began on April 4, ended in a draw after 32 moves.
• Team World utilized a voting system for moves, showcasing a new collaborative gaming format.
• Carlsen praised the quality of the gameplay from Team World during the intense match.
• This match is part of a growing trend of online chess competitions following the pandemic.

Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen faced an unprecedented challenge when he took on a staggering 143,000 players from around the globe in a historic freestyle match, dubbed "Magnus Carlsen vs. The World." The game, hosted on Chess.com, began on April 4 and concluded with a draw on May 13, marking a significant event in the chess community as it was the first freestyle match involving a reigning world champion, according to CBS News and India Times.

The match proceeded in the Chess960 format, where pieces are arranged randomly to foster creativity, while Carlsen played with the white pieces. Team World, consisting of online chess enthusiasts, collectively decided on their moves through a voting system, allowing each side 24 hours for gameplay. Carlsen was ultimately forced into a draw after three checks against his king led to a stalemate known as "threefold repetition," as reported by NPR and CBS News.

Carlsen acknowledged the strong performance from Team World, stating, "Overall, the World has played very, very sound chess," which contributed to the eventual draw at move 32. He recognized that, despite an initial advantage, he "didn't play that precisely," allowing the collective strength of the players to thwart his advances, according to India Times and NPR.

This match demonstrates a growing trend in online chess, especially post-pandemic, showcasing that competitive play has become more accessible and popular. Experts note that as the overall skill level rises among players globally, draws are becoming more common in such high-stakes matches, reflecting a broader improvement in chess strategy, as mentioned by NPR and India Times.